Tech giants Amazon, Google and Microsoft, steel producer Nucor, and electricity provider Duke Energy announced agreements aimed at exploring new approaches to support the deployment of carbon-free energy generation, including the development of new rate structures to share risk for new clean energy projects based on emerging technologies.

Announced at the White House Summit on Domestic Nuclear Deployment, the agreements include proposals for new rate structures in North Carolina and South Carolina, designed to lower the long-term costs of investing in clean energy technologies through early commitments.

Briana Kobor, Google, Head of Energy Market Innovation, said:

“Through collaboration with Duke Energy, the Clean Transition Tariff creates a pathway for us and our peers to bring new, innovative solutions to the forefront faster, in a region we have called home for more than 15 years.”

The new models include proposed Accelerating Clean Energy (ACE) tariffs, aimed addressing the project risk to lower costs for emerging technologies by enabling large energy users to support clean energy investments through innovative financing structures and contributions. The ACE tariffs would facilitate on-site generation at customer facilities, participation in load-sharing programs, and investments in clean energy assets.

The framework would also include a new Clean Transition Tariff (CTT), matching clean energy generation and customer load to accelerate overall grid decarbonization. Duke said that the CTT feature would enable it to provide individualized portfolios of new carbon-free energy to commercial and industrial customers.

Lon Huber, Duke Energy, SVP Pricing and Customer Solutions, said:

“With the help of companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor, we can accelerate our service of large customer needs and the transition to cleaner energy, while reducing financial risks and supporting economic development in our communities.”