Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) reported its third quarter 2009 earnings of 40 cents per share, compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents and the year-earlier earnings of 33 cents. Before adjusting for one-time items, the earnings were 8 cents versus year-earlier earnings of 17 cents. While the company’s results came in above expectations driven by better cost control and operational excellence, a weak economy sapped the demand for electricity and caused lower electricity sales. The U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas (USFE&G) segment posted third-quarter earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $716 million, down more than 1% year over year. This fall in earnings was due to unfavorable weather throughout the service territory, partially offset by reduced operating and maintenance costs. EBIT for the Commercial Power segment was a loss of $234 million, compared to a loss of $108 million in the third ...

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) will install four solar panels in North Carolina in the first phase of its $50 million rooftop solar project. The four projects with a combined 4.6MW of annual capacity are expected to be completed by March 2010.   Duke Energy is focusing on green energy in the light of recent progress in the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The act stipulates stringent caps against carbon dioxide emissions. Also North Carolina 's renewable energy standard stipulates each public electric utility to generate a minimum of 12.5% of its North Carolina retail customers' electricity needs through new renewable energy sources or energy efficiency measures by fiscal 2021.  Duke Energy also has 634MW of land-based wind energy in Pennsylvania , Texas and Wyoming , another 99MW under construction and an additional 251MW of wind projects scheduled to begin operations in 2010. According to a report ...

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) recently signed a contract with the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill to place up to three demonstration wind turbines in Pamlico Sound (North Carolina). Duke will pay for the turbines and their installation. The turbines will harness the power of ocean breezes along North Carolina’s coast. 

Duke Energy’s pilot project is based on a nine-month study completed in June 2009 by the UNC for the North Carolina General Assembly. The pilot turbine installation will facilitate utility-scale wind energy development by enabling studies to optimize measuring and predicting the wind resource, quantifying ecological impacts and demonstrating turbine performance in tropical storm conditions. 

Duke Energy has 634MW of land-based wind energy in Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming, another 99MW under construction and an additional 251MW of wind projects scheduled to begin operations in 2010. The company is focusing on green energy in …