---
title: "Duke Energy tapped for $50M Upstate grid upgrades"
url: https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/10/05/duke-energy-doe-grid-grant-upstate/
date: 2026-10-05T12:47:08-04:00
modified: 2026-10-05T12:47:08-04:00
author: "Allen M. Hopkins"
categories: ["Business"]
site: "HERE Clemson"
attribution: "HERE Clemson"
---

# Duke Energy tapped for $50M Upstate grid upgrades

*Source: [HERE Clemson](https://www.hereclemson.com/2026/10/05/duke-energy-doe-grid-grant-upstate/) — October 5, 2026 by Allen M. Hopkins*

Duke Energy has been selected for $50 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding to help upgrade transmission capacity in Greenville and Spartanburg counties, the utility said.

The federal selection would support advanced transmission work in those Upstate counties and in Henderson and Polk counties in North Carolina. Duke said it plans about $151 million of its own investment alongside the grant, putting the combined package above $200 million for Carolinas infrastructure improvements.

Company officials said the award is meant to offset part of the project cost that would otherwise land on customer bills and to let upgrades move faster than a traditional build schedule. The work would use grid-enhancing and advanced transmission tools such as advanced conductors and dynamic line ratings to squeeze more capacity from existing lines.

Duke Energy described the goal as delivering more power to growing communities while improving outage response and flexibility. The $50 million federal share pairs with the utility’s matching investment focused on the Greenville-Spartanburg area and nearby North Carolina counties.

Final funding still depends on completing negotiations with the Department of Energy. Duke said the package was chosen through the department’s SPARK program for projects that expand capacity and strengthen reliability.