CHARLOTTE — The Creswell Volunteer Fire Department will soon add 2,000 feet of new fire hose to its firefighting arsenal thanks to a $12,000 donation from Duke Energy Renewables.

Creswell, located in Washington County, is home to one of Duke Energy’s 40 solar energy plants located in North Carolina, the No. 2 state in the nation for overall solar power. The Creswell Solar Plant, which supplies 14 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to North Carolina, has been in service since 2015.

“Safety at and around our facilities is a top priority for us,” said Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy Renewables. “The Creswell Volunteer Fire Department is a valued partner and contributor to supporting this priority. We’re proud to be able to help fund the equipment they need to continue their good work in Washington and Tyrrell counties.”

The new 5-inch fire hose enables the department to maintain its operating certification while also enhancing its firefighting capabilities. The 5-inch fire hose is capable of doubling water flow when compared to the 4-inch hose it will replace.

“Our dedicated team of 28 firefighters serves and protects the residents of Creswell. Each year we work hard to improve our equipment and to keep our insurance ratings at a place that saves citizens’ tax dollars.” said Ron Ambrose, Creswell’s Fire Chief. “We’re a rural, all-volunteer department that responds to about 50 fire calls per year. We depend on grants and donations to keep our equipment up to standard and appreciate Duke Energy Renewables’ support to continue a proud tradition of service that’s been in place since 1957.”

The Creswell Fire Department serves the northeastern part of Washington County and participates in automatic aid with surrounding Mid County and Lake Phelps fire departments. Creswell also provides mutual aid firefighting support to Tyrrell County. For more information about supporting Creswell’s Volunteer Fire Department, contact Chief Ambrose at 252.394.5348.

Duke Energy Renewables

Duke Energy Renewables, a nonregulated unit of Duke Energy, operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., with a total electric capacity of 3,000 megawatts. The power is sold to electric utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers. The unit also operates energy storage and microgrid projects. Visit Duke Energy Renewables for more information.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, in addition to Duke Energy Renewables’ capacity.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2020 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, and Forbes’ 2019 “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.