N.C. Leads South In Solar Power Usage, Study Finds

[Webster]

Stanly News & Press: N.C. Leads South In Solar Power Usage, Study Finds
Excerpt....

DURHAM, N.C. -- North Carolina, which had almost no large-scale solar energy seven years ago, now ranks first in the Southeast and fourth in the nation in solar energy capacity, says a new report from Duke University.

"North Carolina is in an enviable position when it comes to solar power development,” said the report’s lead author, Lukas Brun, senior research analyst at Duke’s Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness (CGGC). “From being virtually non-existent in 2008, it is today the South’s leader in solar power. The result has been a growth in companies and employment in the industry, providing wide-spread benefits to the state."

A sunny climate, capable companies and investor- and business-friendly policies have combined to boost solar energy in the state. North Carolina now has 150 utility-scale solar facilities, with another 377 facilities planned.

The economic impact of N.C.’s solar industry extends beyond its solar facilities, though. The report describes a solar “value chain” of investors, solar developers, construction contractors and solar panel and component manufacturers comprising more than 450 companies. Together, these companies support some 4,300 jobs and represent a $2 billion investment. In addition to jobs, solar industry-related businesses provide income for landowners and tax revenue for N.C. towns, the report states.

Those economic benefits are spread across different regions of the state, including urban areas and rural counties such as Catawba, Robeson and Wayne, which lead the state in large-scale solar capacity.

Solar industry revenue benefits “very rural, poor parts of the state,” said John Morrison of Strata Solar, a solar business located in Chapel Hill, N.C. “And then there is what solar means to the landowners, the farmers, who are able to receive a long-term, fairly secure income for leasing a portion of their property for a solar farm.”

Uncertainty exists in North Carolina’s solar future, however. Three policy issues could affect North Carolina’s continued development of large-scale solar: the impending expiration of the state-level renewable energy tax credit at the end of 2015; the expected reduction of the federal investment tax credit from 30 percent to 10 percent at the end of 2016; and a backlog of 400 projects that is hindering timely completion of solar power projects.

Thoughts?

 

[+paradox]

good, more clean energy the better...

 

[Webster]

good, more clean energy the better...

I've long said where the market allows it and it makes sense to do so, go w/renewable energies...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

good, more clean energy the better...

I've long said where the market allows it and it makes sense to do so, go w/renewable energies...

Except! Our government has been using the tax payers money to subsidize these things with thousands of dollars per house. So that tells me that technology is not ready for prime time and the people who bought these in a few short years will see that as the efficiency declines. If the government would stay out of it you will see what usually happens with expensive new technology. The rich buy it first and as it gets better it becomes more affordable and a better product all around by the time it reaches the middle class. But government has to frack that up like everything else they touch.
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[Webster]

good, more clean energy the better...

I've long said where the market allows it and it makes sense to do so, go w/renewable energies...

Except! Our government has been using the tax payers money to subsidize these things with thousands of dollars per house. So that tells me that technology is not ready for prime time and the people who bought these in a few short years will see that as the efficiency declines. If the government would stay out of it you will see what usually happens with expensive new technology. The rich buy it first and as it gets better it becomes more affordable and a better product all around by the time it reaches the middle class. But government has to frack that up like everything else they touch.

*scratches head in thought* Thank you for the point there; I hadn't realized that part of the equation...

 

[+paradox]

good, more clean energy the better...

I've long said where the market allows it and it makes sense to do so, go w/renewable energies...

Except! Our government has been using the tax payers money to subsidize these things with thousands of dollars per house. So that tells me that technology is not ready for prime time and the people who bought these in a few short years will see that as the efficiency declines. If the government would stay out of it you will see what usually happens with expensive new technology. The rich buy it first and as it gets better it becomes more affordable and a better product all around by the time it reaches the middle class. But government has to frack that up like everything else they touch.

*scratches head in thought* Thank you for the point there; I hadn't realized that part of the equation...

only that a lot of great technologies are being produced with tax payers monies, by the u.s.'s military and government contractors... the military and the technology today that the u.s. military has is because of tax payer's dollar...

it's the big business that the military technologies and science ripples down to...

the u.s. is investing into clean and renewable energies and making it happen when big oil tries to shut that idea down like a bug...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

good, more clean energy the better...

I've long said where the market allows it and it makes sense to do so, go w/renewable energies...

Except! Our government has been using the tax payers money to subsidize these things with thousands of dollars per house. So that tells me that technology is not ready for prime time and the people who bought these in a few short years will see that as the efficiency declines. If the government would stay out of it you will see what usually happens with expensive new technology. The rich buy it first and as it gets better it becomes more affordable and a better product all around by the time it reaches the middle class. But government has to frack that up like everything else they touch.

*scratches head in thought* Thank you for the point there; I hadn't realized that part of the equation...

only that a lot of great technologies are being produced with tax payers monies, by the u.s.'s military and government contractors... the military and the technology today that the u.s. military has is because of tax payer's dollar...

it's the big business that the military technologies and science ripples down to...

the u.s. is investing into clean and renewable energies and making it happen when big oil tries to shut that idea down like a bug...

Not the same. That is technology created for a purpose of protecting all Americans in a constitutional manner. Then that tech gets used in the private sector for all of us. This is directly using tax payers money for individuals.