North Carolina is the leader in the Southeast in the clean energy economy. Below are just a few of the recent announcements and innovations from across the state. Follow each link to read more about these projects.
WIND
North Carolina's Wind for Schools project team installed nine projects in the Tar Heel State in 2011 and hopes to facilitate more installations in 2012. Dave French, associate director of the Appalachian State University Wind Application Center, credits the group's preliminary work preparing for the multiple installations which was rewarded when funding was received late in the year.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The North Carolina Energy Star Appliance Replacement and Rebate program reopened on Feb. 15. The program aims to cut consumer’s energy costs by providing incentivies for them to replace older, less-efficient models, according to a news release.
SMART GRID
Smart meter company, Itron Inc, is working on a plan that could double its software development staff in Raleigh to more than 400 people, adding to the Triangle's growing cluster of smart grid support experts.
SOLAR
Joel Olsen of O2 energies Inc. plans to build his company’s largest solar project to date. The 4.4-megawatt, $15 million solar farm, planned on a field that Ararat Rock Products Co. of Mount Airy leased to raise corn on until this year, is one of four projects of that size that Olsen plans to build by September.
Old Dominion Freight Line installed 1.8 megawatt solar system on its warehouse in Thomasville.
