The utility company, headquartered in Charlotte, plans to ramp up this localized spending to a projected $5 billion over the next five years. By sourcing critical components—such as transformers from GE Vernova in Goldsboro and gas turbines from Siemens Energy in Charlotte—the company aims to mitigate supply chain risks and shorten the delivery pipeline for grid-essential equipment.

Katie Aittola, Duke Energy’s chief procurement officer, noted that these investments serve as a direct reinvestment into the economies where the utility operates. Beyond the immediate economic injection, the strategy addresses the physical reality of rising energy demand. With over 97% of the company's annual sourcing already locked into U.S.-based suppliers, the initiative underscores a push to keep manufacturing close to home. N.C. Chamber CEO Gary Salamido praised the effort as a model for regional corporate cooperation, emphasizing that the reliance on local firms reinforces the state's industrial growth while ensuring long-term reliability for the millions of customers served by the utility across its multi-state footprint.