CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy announced this week it's building a solar facility in Catawba County and Gaston County.

When the facilities are built, they will power around 20,000 homes and businesses.

While Duke Energy says there are a few drawbacks to solar, including the amount of land the panels take up and the need for sun, 5 percent of Duke's energy comes from solar. It's a number the company expects to double.

“The price of building them has come down, it's carbon-free electricity, the fuel is free so there's no fuel costs involved, there's a lot of capital costs, so it makes it more economical for us,” Duke Energy Spokesman Randy Wheeless says.

The solar facilities in Gaston County and Catawba County are expected to go online by the end of the year.