With its abundant natural resources and skilled farmers, North Carolina could become a national player in the biomass industry. In 10 years, the Southeast is expected to produce 50 percent of the nation's biofuels, according to the “USDA Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022.” North Carolina State University has received a $4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to study the production, transportation and storage of biofuels in North Carolina, the Charlotte Observer reports.

"North Carolina is a veritable wood basket," NC State researcher Steve Kelley told the newspaper. "Additionally, we have a long growing season, available land, abundant rainfall, and a wealth of skilled farmers and foresters."

The study, which focuses on commercial-scale biomass operations, will look at the effects of the biofuels industry on the environment. Bioenergy production, the Observer reported, has the potential to create jobs and stimulate the economy.

UNC-TV's program "NC Now" highlighted three clean energy Hertford County businesses that are dedicated to improving the economy and ecology of North Carolina. The episode, which orginally aired on Oct. 31, 2011, features Wellons Energy Solutions, a project developer for biomass cogeneration facilities; SunPower, a provider of solar solutions; and Enviva LP, a manufacturer of processed biomass fuel.

The segment was part of the North Carolina Rising project which identifies and highlights the success stories of North Carolina's rural areas that once thrived on crops such as tobacco but are now transitioning into a new global economy. In August 2010 UNC-TV began a weekly series of reports on North Carolina Now, UNC-TV's flagship public affairs series. The reports feature unique economic development projects happening across the state and seek to raise awareness of effective revitalization efforts so that they might be replicated in other areas of the state and beyond.

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.

Each year, NCSEA presents awards to businesses and individuals who show exemplary innovation and leadership in advancing the clean energy economy in North Carolina.  Nominations may be made online by peers, partners or the business or individual themselves.  Award winners will be announced at NCSEA's 2011 Making Energy Work conference on November 9 at the Raleigh Convention Center.  The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, September 23.

This year has been an extremely busy, challenging and successful one for NCSEA's policy staff at the NC General Assembly - join us as we take a look back. The NC General Assembly concluded the bulk of its 2011 legislative session last Saturday afternoon, adjourning until July 13 when legislators will come back to Raleigh for a special session focused primarily on redistricting (approving new voting districts).

On June 29th, NCSEA’s legislative team (Ivan Urlaub, Julie Robinson, Tom Bean) held our "2011 Legislative Wrap-Up" webinar.  Click here to download the webinar presentation. The hour-long webinar included great discussions and Q&A regarding the 2011 session, including the outcome of legislative proposals to strengthen our state’s energy efficient building code and commitment to growing our solar industry, positioning our state to benefit from offshore wind power, growing our smart grid industry, and securing funding for our innovative clean energy economic development institutions like the NC Solar Center, among other critical matters.

What is North Carolina’s clean energy economy – and what does it encompass?  What are our state’s clean energy resources, installed projects, business and job creation opportunities, and what regions of our state are leading the way?  The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), a membership organization representing individuals, businesses, government and non-profits that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, has compiled all of this valuable information and much more into the “first-ever” 2011 NC Clean Energy Data Book.  Previously, the information found in this new publication was scattered across numerous state agencies, found in over a thousand regulatory filings at the NC Utilities Commission, on various websites, or not cataloged online at all.  Click here to download the 2011 NC Clean Energy Data Book. 

NC GreenPower has issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) produced in North Carolina.  The types of renewable generation accepted into their program remain the same, but NC GreenPower is now open to offering a contract guarantee depending on the resource type and premium requested.

Proposals should be received no later than 5pm on Friday, October 22, 2010 either via email to: bids@ncgreenpower.org or via mail.

This past July the Utilities Commission considered an application by Duke Energy to register two test co-firings utilizing woody biomass with coal.  While the evidentiary portion of this hearing has closed, there has not been a final ruling from the Commission on the eligibility of these facilities to earn renewable energy credits (RECs), nor have they indicated which direction they are leaning.