A Chairman’s Order, a Lawsuit, and a Ticking Clock: Inside the Fight Over North Carolina’s 2026 Solar RFP

North Carolina regulators have put a large solar and battery storage purchasing program on hold, and the fight over that pause is now tied up in court. Duke Energy was required to run a 2026 competitive bidding round for new solar and battery projects under a state-approved 2024 plan, but a state utility commissioner froze that process in April. Clean energy groups and business associations argued the freeze was done without the proper legal process, and in June they sued the commission directly. A hearing happened in August, and a ruling isn't expected until October.

Underneath the legal dispute is a scheduling problem. Solar projects have to go through a technical review process tied to Duke's power grid connection studies, which run on a strict annual calendar. Because the 2026 bidding round still hasn't opened, that connection review is now at risk of missing its window — and once it's missed, the delay could push actual project construction back by well over a year, not just a few months.

None of this changes anything for homeowners directly right now — it doesn't affect current rebate programs, rates, or home upgrade incentives. But it's worth watching if you're in Duke Energy's North Carolina territory: the outcome could shape how much new solar power gets added to the grid versus new natural gas plants in coming years, which affects future electricity prices and how "clean" the power supply is when it reaches your home.