Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC, has completed a commercial installation of a solar water heating system at the newly opened Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in Elizabethtown, NC. The solar thermal system will enable this renovated building to benefit from the sun’s energy and offset the majority of the town’s monthly expenses related to hot water heating.

"Using solar in new construction is a forward thinking approach to managing water heating costs as all new buildings have a water heater in the budgeted. With a slightly higher investment up front for a solar thermal system, property owners can profit from 25 plus years of free hot water, courtesy of the sun," says John Donoghue, President of the Wilmington based Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC.

NC Sustainable Energy Association’s Executive Director Ivan Urlaub and Solar and Renewable Energy Industry Specialist Miriam Makhyoun acquired inside knowledge into community energy at Solar Power International in Dallas the week of Oct. 17. Community energy includes anything above one customer and one meter. It is not yet a reality in North Carolina.

At SPI, Urlaub and Makhyoun attended two sessions where they learned from utility companies and local leaders who have designed successful programs that work for their communities. The three basic models for community energy include the following: Utility-Sponsored, Special Purpose Entity (SPE), and Nonprofit “Buy-a-Brick” models (U.S. Department of Energy, Guide to Community Solar, 2011). The three main types of meter configurations include: virtual net metering (across a number of noncontiguous properties), meter aggregation (for multiple meters such as farmers), and joint-billing for multiple customers.

North Carolina ranks ninth in the U.S. for additional installed PV capacity and eleventh for cumulative installed PV capacity, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s U.S. Solar Market Trends 2010 report.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council publishes the report each year. North Carolina ranked above Texas on the 2010 list. California came in first followed by New Jersey, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Florida. All of the top 10 states made the list, the report said, because of their state renewable portfolio or financial incentive programs.

The Triangle Business Journal recognized the NC Sustainable Energy Association Thursday for its efforts to create jobs and economic opportunities in the clean energy and energy efficiency sectors. The journal named NCSEA Green Nonprofit Business of 2011. Triangle Business Journal Publisher Bryan Hamilton presented the award to Ivan Urlaub, NCSEA executive director, and Julie Robinson, director of government affairs, during an award's luncheon at the Embassy Suites in Cary. NCSEA was one of 16 organizations, businesses and individuals who were honored Thursday. The recipients were profiled in a special section of Friday's Triangle Business Journal.

Since 1978, NCSEA has been dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future through the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency. NCSEA works to educate legislators and support clean energy and energy efficiency businesses in an effort to increase the use of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency solutions. NCSEA's work is made possible through the participation and support of its members and partners.

On November 9, the NC Sustainable Energy Association will release its 2011 North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries Census detailing amongst other findings the number of jobs and businesses associated with our state’s clean energy sector. The Census and the annual report, now in its fourth year, is the only undertaking of its kind providing North Carolina businesses and industry stakeholders with the most comprehensive and up-to-date data. In 2010, the Census reported more than 12,500 jobs making it the third consecutive year that the clean energy sector experienced growth. 

All this week Executive Director Ivan Urlaub and Miriam Makhyoun, Solar and Renewable Energy Industry Specialist, have been in Dallas representing NCSEA at Solar Power International 2011. The conference, which runs from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20, is designed to generate powerful ideas, connections and business for the solar industry.

Duke Energy and Progress Energy hurriedly filed amendments to their $26 billion merger with federal regulators on Monday in a bid to get the deal approved by the end of the year. The filings were made possible by the NC Utilities Comission (NCUC), who ruled earlier on Monday that the utilities did not have to wait the standard 30 days to add safeguards requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The federal regulators ruled last month that the merger raises significant concerns about market concentration, which should be addressed in order for the merger to be approved.

Duke Energy has proposed a rate increase for its North Carolina retail electric customers, which totals on average 15.5% (residential increase would be 17.4%). To change electric rates paid by customers, Duke Energy must ask for approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), the regulatory body that oversees electric utilities in our state. If approved, new rates would like go into effect in February 2012. During this review process, the commission will hold both public hearings and formal evidentiary hearings across the state in order to get feedback from customers and involved groups.  NCSEA has intervened in this rate case and will testify at the late November hearing before the Commission.

North Carolina is leading the Southeast in the emerging clean energy economy. Below is a small sampling of what's happening across our state. Click below on each link to learn more about these recent innovations, announcements and advancements.  (And, remember to forward your announcements to amneris@energync.org if you would like your information posted on NCSEA's website and included in our eNews.)

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina’s leading clean energy conference is just around the corner – space is limited so attendees are encouraged to register today!  The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) will hold its annual “Making Energy Work” conference on Wednesday, November 9^th at the Raleigh Convention Center.  The conference is well-known for delivering unparalleled educational content, stimulating discussions and debates, and great networking opportunities for a wide range of attendees including the “novice” to energy industry experts to policymakers – everyone involved with our rapidly-developing clean energy economy.  For more information on the agenda and to register, please visit: http://energync.org/annualmeeting2011.