While Duke Energy is fighting for new natural gas plants to provide reserve margin (extra capacity) for when renewable energy isn't running, it could be fighting for grid upgrades that would make it easier and more profitable to install renewable energy in the future. Smart meters, energy storage, EV charging, new transmission lines, and demand response infrastructure have all been rate-based by regulators around the country in an effort to modernize the grid. Those kind of changes are what's needed to expand the base of renewable energy North Carolina is building and create a utility of the future.