Because the freezing of solar contracts this year could upend Duke’s long-term plan to transition to carbon-free resources, critics of the order are asking for an expedited ruling on their reconsideration petition by May 19. The carbon-reduction plan is still pending with regulators.

“Any kind of reconsideration should happen quickly,” said Mikaela Curry, a North Carolina–based Beyond Coal campaign manager with Sierra Club, one of the groups protesting the order. ​“If this gets dragged out and delayed, it still could have the same impact.”