Duke Energy Corp. is awaiting approval from regulators for updated Carolinas resource plans to increase natural gas generation, fueled in part by the Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (MVP) system, which would transport more Appalachian supply to southeastern markets. 

Charlotte, NC-based Duke last summer filed a Carbon Plan and Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) for North Carolina and South Carolina. The IRP asked for approval to add 17,980 MW, including 5,780 MW of combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) and combustion turbines. After filing the IRP last August, however, revised forecasts for the next 15 years showed electricity demand would require an additional 2,000 MW.

Duke late last month proposed adding more than 2,720 MW of CCGT in South Carolina, an addition to the August proposal...