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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Belews Creek, NC

Home Care Belews Creek, NC

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Krner's Folly in Belews Creek, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Belews Creek, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Belews Creek, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was the best option. She was familiar with all assisted living/memory care facilities around town and was quick to respond to the family with tours. She delivered FL2 forms to physician's and made the transition an easy process. I recommend Sandy 100 % for any family needing a smaller community for their elderly family member.”

MATTCH
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”

Samantha T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”

Kelly P.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”

Ffbjj B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”

Beth G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time in caregiving, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

MJ F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”

Meredith K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”

Ginger M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Michael B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”

Mary E.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Phillip B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”

Barry C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”

Laura M.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Belews Creek, NC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Belews Creek, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Belews Creek, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Belews Creek, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Belews Creek, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Knight Brown Nature Preserve in Belews Creek, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Belews Creek, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ryan's Restaurant or visit Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Belews Creek, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Belews Creek, NC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Belews Creek, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Belews Creek, NC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Belews Creek, NC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Belews Creek, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Belews Creek, NC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Belews Creek, NC

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Tranquility Care Of WinstonSalem
  • Walnut Ridge Assisted Living
  • Arbor Ridge At Kernersville
  • Robinwood Senior Living
  • Pierce Management Group
  • Kerner Ridge Assisted Living
Home Care Belews Creek, NC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Belews Creek, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Belews Creek, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Belews Creek, NC

Latest News in Belews Creek, NC

Duke Energy wants to burn coal, gas at Belews Creek for 15 years

Duke Energy would be permitted to burn coal and gas until 2040 at the company’s Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County under a proposal submitted to state regulators Wednesday.That would be four years later than the current timeline filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 2023.A revised schedule is significant because Belews Creek is one of the state’s largest power plants — and its biggest single source of climate-warming pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency....

Duke Energy would be permitted to burn coal and gas until 2040 at the company’s Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County under a proposal submitted to state regulators Wednesday.

That would be four years later than the current timeline filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 2023.

A revised schedule is significant because Belews Creek is one of the state’s largest power plants — and its biggest single source of climate-warming pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Duke plans to neutralize the facility’s carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuel combustion there with emissions-free power from what would be the state’s first new nuclear reactor in nearly four decades.

The question now is, when?

Duke submitted its latest Carolinas Resource Plan Wednesday. The document, which maps out the company’s future energy mix in the two states, would also push back activation of a potential reactor at Belews Creek by two years, to 2036.

The company proposes adding a small modular reactor, or SMR.

SMRs generate about one-third as much power as traditional nuclear reactors but are cheaper and easier to deploy because they can be assembled in a factory then transported for on-site installation.

The company says its proposed reactor at Belews Creek will be capable of producing about 300 megawatts. The station currently has a total capacity of 2,200 megawatts.

Road to net-zero

Delaying the transition away from coal and gas ultimately will help spread the costs of reaching so-called net-zero status for carbon dioxide pollution by 2050, the company said Wednesday.

Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, including coal and natural gas, is the leading cause of climate change.

Because Duke is North Carolina’s largest utility, its transition to clean energy will have an outsized impact on a state mandate to be carbon neutral by mid-century.

The resulting net-zero status would mean carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is offset by an equivalent amount that is removed or avoided through clean-energy projects, including the installation of solar arrays and wind turbines, or mitigation projects such as the large-scale planting of trees.

In an interview Wednesday with the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News & Record, company officials said shifts in state and federal policies prompted Duke to propose delaying some elements of its clean-energy transition.

Those political developments included the North Carolina General Assembly scrapping an interim goal to slash the state’s carbon emissions by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030, and incentives by President Donald Trump’s administration that encourage the mining and use of coal and natural gas.

“We're still on a trajectory for carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Glen Snider, Duke’s managing director of integrated resource planning. “But having the interim (state) target removed and then the flexibility afforded at the federal level both in the exact timing of coal (plant) retirements as well as how gas plants are allowed to operate when they replace those coal units, that flexibility has helped with the affordability of the plan.”

The resulting savings will translate to smaller future rate increases for customers, added Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president.

“We are really trying to squeeze every megawatt we can out of our existing fleet of assets,” Bowman told the newspapers. “We're also taking advantage of tax incentives, and we're planning to defer dates for some of our longer-range resources in favor of some technologies that can more quickly serve near-term growth.”

Under the proposal, rates for Duke customers in the Carolinas would increase by an average of 2.1% annually over the course of a decade, the company projected — though it noted that’s just related to the plan itself, not other grid upgrades.

In the same period, the typical bill would rise about $30 per month compared to $54 monthly under the existing timeline.

“By expanding our diverse generation portfolio and maximizing our existing power plants to meet growth needs, we will ensure reliable energy while saving all our customers money,” Bowman said.

Surging demand

The latest plan includes 4,000 megawatts of solar capacity and 5,600 megawatts of battery storage by 2034, but critics also noted that it includes up to seven new plants powered by natural gas and would extend the life of several existing gas-fired units, including at Belews Creek.

“Duke’s proposal to delay coal retirements is a disappointing and unsettling departure from the utility’s previous commitments,” said Mikaela Curry, manager of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “Duke Energy has an obligation to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy for North Carolinians.”

Energy needs of Duke customers in the Carolinas over the next 15 years are expected to surge eight times faster than in the previous decade-and-a-half, the company said. That’s more than double the projected increase when the 2023 Carolinas Resource Plan was initially filed.

That demand will be driven largely by growth in population and manufacturing, as well as the continued expansion of artificial intelligence, which relies on information storage in data centers that require extraordinary amounts of electricity, the company said.

David Neal, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, questioned Duke’s strategy of adding natural gas capacity as a bridge to emissions-free energy generation.

Burning natural gas produces about half the carbon pollution of coal combustion but still contributes to climate change.

“We’re concerned that regulated monopoly Duke Energy is continuing to rely on expensive new gas power plants, leaving North Carolina families on the hook for escalating fuel costs and making it harder to reach the 2050 carbon neutrality requirement,” Neal said. “Duke yet again appears to have fallen short of taking full advantage of energy efficiency, load flexibility, renewables and storage, which remain the cheapest and fastest suite of options for meeting rising demand.”

What’s next?

The North Carolina Utilities Commission will hold a series of public hearings across the state to get input on the proposed plan, then hear evidence from experts, advocates and opponents next summer before likely issuing an order in late 2026, said Bowman.

Selenium toxicity at Belews Lake

When Duke Power. created Belews Lake in 1973, fishermen had high expectations about the bass fishery, since new fisheries typically explode with large numbers of fish, though they may be small in size.One year later, those expectations disappeared when selenium, a wastewater by-product of the Belews Creek Steam Station, leaked into the lake. The undetected spills occurred from 1974 through 1984, raising havoc with the fishery from mid-lake near the steam station to the dam, while leaving the southern portion of the lake largely uncont...

When Duke Power. created Belews Lake in 1973, fishermen had high expectations about the bass fishery, since new fisheries typically explode with large numbers of fish, though they may be small in size.

One year later, those expectations disappeared when selenium, a wastewater by-product of the Belews Creek Steam Station, leaked into the lake. The undetected spills occurred from 1974 through 1984, raising havoc with the fishery from mid-lake near the steam station to the dam, while leaving the southern portion of the lake largely uncontaminated.

In 1986, scientists discovered that selenium toxicity was the culprit. The selenium poisoning caused deformities to the spine, head, fins and eyes of fish; it also caused reproductive failure that decimated 19 of the 20 species in the lake.

Dennis Lemly, a U.S. Forest Service research biologist at the Southern Research Station, spent 20 years studying the effects of selenium on the Belews Lake fishery.

“Belews Lake represents one of the most-extensive and prolonged cases of selenium poisoning of freshwater fish in the United States,” Lemly was quoted as saying. “It provides an excellent case study of the insidious and persistent toxicity of selenium to aquatic ecosystems.

“Selenium poisoning in fish can be invisible for a time because the primary impact is on the egg, which receives the toxin from the mother’s diet. When the eggs are hatched, the developing fish metabolize the selenium. Some fish are visibly deformed, but others grow into adult fish that appear healthy yet fail to reproduce. Because there is no apparent fish kill, species can disappear before you can do anything about it.”

Once the effects of selenium became known, Duke Power rerouted the selenium-tainted wastewater from its steam station.

Though some selenium remains in the sediment, its impact has diminished.

“One indication of this is that the fish-consumption advisory on the lake has been removed for some 15 years,” said Kinnon Hodges, a fisheries biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Another indication relates to fish-density samplings conducted by Hodges.

“The densities of fish we collect during our electrofishing surveys in the main body of the lake and the upstream end of the lake are nearly identical,” he said. “If selenium was still having significant impact, you’d expect to see a lot higher density of fish in the upstream end of the lake than you would in the main body of the lake where the selenium contamination occurred.”

A 2007-2009 study by Hodges attributed the difference in bass growth rates from one end of the lake to the other to the warmer water temperatures of the northern section, though further study of the cooler southern portion is needed.

“The fish in the warm section exhibit faster growth rates during their first three years, but they don’t live very long,” he said. “That’s why there’s an abundance of 10- to 15-inch fish in Belews, but not many larger fish. That’s not an unexpected finding; it’s typical of heated lakes.”

Kinnon said Belews is a nutrient-poor lake, which accounts for its clear waters and its low productivity.

“The bass in Belews are long and lean, not pot-bellied like Lake Jordan bass, because of the lake’s limited food supply,” he said.

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