Duke Energy slows spending on S.C. nuke plant

Duke Energy spent $23.2 million from July through December on planning and preconstruction work for its proposed $11 billion Lee Nuclear Station near Gaffney, S.C. That brings Duke’s investment for 2014 to nearly $45 million. That’s the least Duke has spent on the project in a year since it began reporting totals to the N.C. Utilities Commission.

Since proposing the project in 2007, Duke has spent $426.6 million on the planned 2,234-megawatt plant, according to a filing.

Financing expenses totaled…