Duke Energy invests $600,000 to train North Carolina's future energy workforce

Published: 2026-04-14 10:50:08 ET DUK

Published on 04/14/2026 at 10:50 am EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation is investing $600,000 to strengthen North Carolina's energy workforce, including $500,000 for 20 North Carolina community colleges and $100,000 for two regional partners expanding access to high-demand training programs aligned with the energy sector.

Why it matters: Community colleges and regional workforce partners are critical to connecting local talent with rapidly growing workforce needs.

Zoom in: Schools will receive $25,000 each to support hands-on training, equipment, scholarships and curriculum enhancements for programs connected to the energy ecosystem – from electrical systems and linework to welding, HVAC, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.

In addition, the Duke Energy Foundation is investing $100,000 in two regional workforce partners to help scale training pipelines and remove financial barriers for students entering energy-related careers:

The bigger picture: North Carolina is now home to more than 11 million residents and remains one of the fastest‑growing states in the nation. In 2025 alone, companies announced economic development projects generating more than 35,000 jobs and $24 billion in investments – much of it tied to new manufacturing facilities. That growth is driving rising energy demand and reinforcing the need for a well‑prepared, locally trained workforce.

What they're saying

Duke Energy FoundationDuke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke EnergyDuke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Madison McDonald24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy