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The North Carolina General Assembly's Energy Policy Commission is evaluating the role of nuclear energy in meeting increasing demand, particularly from A.I. data centers. Duke Energy plans to transition from coal to nuclear by retiring its last coal plant by 2040 and is seeking permits for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Belews Creek Steam Station, supported by federal financing. However, experts caution that SMRs could be significantly more expensive than larger reactors, potentially impacting their economic feasibility.