From July 2025 through June 2026, fossil fuels supplied almost half of North Carolina’s electricity consumption, while low-carbon sources supplied about 40%. Gas accounted for roughly 36% and coal for 12%. Nuclear was the largest clean electricity source, supplying about 27% of consumption, followed by solar at 9%—mostly utility-scale solar—and hydropower at nearly 3%. Net imports supplied another 11%; the data do not identify their low-carbon or fossil composition. North Carolina therefore has a substantial clean electricity foundation, but fossil fuels still supply the largest share, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in North Carolina?

Electricity consumption is growing, but only slightly on a per-person basis. The latest 2026 figure reached about 13,890 kWh per person, just 31 kWh above the previous record set in 2025—an increase of roughly 0.2%. Meanwhile, low-carbon electricity generation fell to about 5,620 kWh per person, approximately 100 kWh below its 2025 record of 5,717 kWh. This combination of nearly flat consumption and declining clean generation is disappointing. Stronger growth in low-carbon electricity would help North Carolina meet future demand from electrification and AI while reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

Suggestions

North Carolina should expand its existing nuclear generation through capacity increases where feasible and consider additional reactors, alongside a substantial expansion of solar. Neighboring South Carolina offers a particularly relevant example: nuclear supplies 52% of electricity generation in that US state, compared with North Carolina’s nuclear contribution of about 27% of consumption. The US state of Illinois also demonstrates a strong nuclear contribution, at 49% of generation. For solar, the US states of Nevada and California generate about 35% and 31% of their electricity from sunlight, respectively, showing the scope for growth beyond North Carolina’s current solar share. Wind could complement these sources: the US states of Iowa and Kansas generate roughly 57% and 49% of their electricity from wind. These regions offer useful lessons, with deployment adapted to North Carolina’s local conditions.

History

The supplied history covers 2024–2026. In 2024, low-carbon generation received a welcome boost as nuclear increased by 1 TWh and hydropower by 0.6 TWh; biofuels declined by 0.2 TWh, while wind was unchanged. In 2025, wind added 0.4 TWh and biofuels 0.1 TWh, but nuclear and hydropower fell by 0.3 and 0.2 TWh. The setbacks deepened in 2026, with nuclear falling another 0.9 TWh, hydropower declining by 0.5 TWh, biofuels slipping by 0.1 TWh, and wind remaining unchanged. The consecutive nuclear declines are especially disappointing given nuclear’s central role in North Carolina’s clean electricity supply. Reversing that lost output and expanding nuclear and solar should be priorities.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.