"Security Concerns Prompt Duke Energy to Disconnect CATL Batteries at US Military Base"
Duke Energy has disconnected large-scale batteries made by Chinese company CATL from North Carolina Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune due to concerns raised by lawmakers and experts about the battery supplier's close links to China's ruling Communist Party. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed worries about potential security threats and the U.S. becoming dependent on Chinese storage batteries, which could have cyber vulnerabilities and put energy grids at risk. Duke Energy stated that the batteries were not connected to Camp Lejeune's network or other systems, but the company did not specify when the batteries were disconnected or how long they would remain offline. CATL denied accusations of espionage threats and stated that its products had passed security reviews by U.S. authorities. Concerns over Chinese batteries have prompted calls for prioritizing U.S.-developed energy storage technologies to address defense and economic security vulnerabilities.
