The Duke Energy subsidiary said the new gas-fueled units will begin operating early next year and join the existing units that burn natural gas or oil at the Wayne County Energy Complex.
Progress Energy already announced plans to shut all of its coal-fired plants lacking advanced environmental controls by the end of 2013. Four oil-fired units also will be retired as wel on 1 October 2012.
The firm had retired one coal-fired power plant near Lumberton in October 2011. Now it aims to close down plants near Moncure, Wilmington and Hartsville in South Carolina.
The US-based company opened the first of its three coal units in 1951 as one of its first major construction projects after Second World War.
