Making Energy Work: Building a Sustainable Energy Economy in the Southeast

2006 Successes

  • NC Green Building & Solar Tour: Spanning 12 local tours and 35 communities, NCSEA and our partner communities showcased renewables and green building solutions in the 5th largest tour nationwide!
  • “Kilowatt Ours” Tour:  In July, NCSEA was a statewide sponsor of the Kilowatt Ours tour, visiting 6 cities in 7 days, reaching over 1,300 concerned citizens and signing up hundreds with NC GreenPower. 
  • Internship program:  NCSEA teamed with 4 graduate and 1 undergraduate student interns from UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC Central University.

Public Policy Achievements

  • Improved Net Metering Rule and Interconnection Standard:  In 2006, NCSEA worked with our electric utilities and the Utilities Commission (NCUC) to correct serious flaws in our state’s Net Metering Rule, making it easier to “net meter” your renewable energy system.  NCSEA also convinced the state to create a standard practice to make it easier for you to “interconnect” your renewable energy system to the electric grid.  We have already started working to strengthen net metering and interconnection in 2007!
  • Clearer understanding of renewable and efficiency resources:  NCSEA convinced the NCUC and legislature to study a Renewables and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), laying the groundwork for our 2007 collaborative REPS legislative campaign. We also won greater consideration of energy efficiency in the NCUC’s Utility Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process.
  • Representing your concerns on key committees: NCSEA Executive Director Ivan Urlaub was appointed to the Joint Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change and serves as a member of the state’s Climate Action Plan Advisory Group. Online at: http://www.ncclimatechange.us/
  • Passed Water/Utilities Savings in Government Facilities bill: NCSEA helped pass legislation further enabling private Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) to significantly reduce energy and water use in government facilities through performance contracts.
  • Passed key Energy Usage & Assistance legislation: Through our member’s support for S2051, NCSEA worked with legislators to empower the NC Office of Economic Opportunity to better administer low-income energy assistance programs statewide and authorize creation of a biofuels industry strategic plan.

Economic Development

  • Supporting the economically disadvantaged:  NCSEA worked with state lawmakers to expand the authority and strengthen the structure of North Carolina’s low-income energy assistance programs.
  • Economic partnerships:  NCSEA greatly expanded our working relationships with green energy businesses and their respective associations to advance energy efficiency, renewables and biodiesel.
  • NC Energy Improvement Loan Program (EILP):  NCSEA is working to make this valuable lending program more effective, getting capital in the pockets of businesses to become more energy efficient.