At our March Monthly Member Briefing, Chamber members heard how Duke Energy is investing in the backbone infrastructure that keeps our region running and competitive. Amy Spiller, President of Duke Energy’s Ohio and Kentucky operations, joined Chamber President & CEO Brendan Cull for a candid conversation about reliability, affordability, and civic leadership.
Duke Energy serves about 1.3 million customers across Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky, supported by 2,000 employees “committed to serving our customers every single day” . In Kentucky, Duke owns a diverse generation portfolio, including a coal plant in Rabbit Hash, a dual-fuel plant in Woodsdale, and about 12 MW of solar, including the largest rooftop solar installation at the Amazon hub near CVG . In Ohio, Duke does not generate power, but builds and maintains the grid that delivers it.
“We know our customers’ expectations continue to change… Core to that however, is their expectation for reliable power.” – Amy Spiller
Investing in Invisible but Essential Infrastructure
Much of Duke’s current focus is on modernizing aging infrastructure—the pipelines and overhead lines most of us never see. The company is replacing older cast iron and bare steel gas pipes with modern plastic pipelines, using internal inspection tools and remote controls to improve safety and reliability. Recent and planned gas projects include the Central Corridor Pipeline, a new line between Bethel and Batavia, and a pipeline serving Trenton Industrial Park that could unlock about 250 acres of developable land.
On the electric side, Duke is deploying self-healing grids that can sense outages and automatically reroute power, plus drones and satellites to assess damage and detect microscopic methane leaks before they grow.
“I would much rather be in a region… where our utilities and partners are investing in the infrastructure, rather than just letting it go.” – Brendan Cull.
Supporting Small Businesses and Neighborhoods
Duke’s impact extends beyond wires and pipes. Through Urban Revitalization Grants and the Chamber’s Storefronts to the Forefront program, the company has helped activate vacant properties and fuel small business growth in neighborhoods from College Hill to Covington.
“These grants have really allowed us to focus on our urban core, remove blight and vacant properties and allow entrepreneurs and dreamers to realize their potential.” – Amy Spiller
For the Chamber, Duke Energy is more than a utility provider; it’s a strategic partner in economic development and community vitality. As we work together on major regional initiatives and everyday business needs, these infrastructure and community investments are helping power Greater Cincinnati’s next chapter.