Blog
Fifteen students, young professionals attend MEW Conference, thanks to scholarship
Thanks to a grant from the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, NCSEA extended 15 scholarships to students and early-career professionals to attend our annual Making Energy Work Conference, held October 23-24. The recipients represented a broad range of clean energy industries, hailing from towns and cities across North Carolina, including Boone, Wilmington, Elon, Charlotte,…
Read MoreNC Utilities Commission Approves New Green Source Advantage Choice Large Customer Program
Duke Energy recently revamped its Green Source Advantage program, a renewable energy tariff for large business customers. Green Source Advantage was originally authorized under House Bill 589, passed in 2017, as a program to allow large energy customers to directly procure clean energy with Duke Energy facilitating the transaction. The program received the green light…
Read MoreC-PACE Financing Authorized by the NC Legislature Represents an Exciting Opportunity for the State
Due to a recent clean energy win at the legislature, North Carolina’s commercial property owners will soon have access to a key financing mechanism for energy-saving improvements through the authorization of Commercial Property Assessed Capital Expenditure (C-PACE). With the passage of Senate Bill 802 by the N.C. General Assembly in late June and Gov. Roy…
Read MoreTransmission Planning – Unsung Hero of Our Clean Energy Future
Achieving our clean energy future means upgrading and expanding our nation’s transmission grid, which is a complex and expensive proposition but with long-term benefits to customers. We MUST get it right, and the NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) is heavily involved in stakeholder conversations that we hope will pave the way for decisive actions that…
Read MoreSqueaky Clean Energy Podcast Episode 114 (Summary and Transcript)
Solar energy is one of North Carolina’s most promising forms of renewable energy. There are nearly 39,000 residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems throughout the state. “Solar farms” are one form of solar energy production. These are large tracts of voluntarily leased farmland, which are financially advantageous for the landowners. Despite all of the advantages, there are…
Read MoreChecking in on The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project: Podcast Episode 113
What Can North Carolina Learn from Virginia’s Investments in Offshore Wind? The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Project in Virginia Beach is a great example of what could be done in North Carolina. John Larson of Dominion Energy recently joined NCSEA on the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast to discuss the specifics of the project and…
Read MoreThe Role of Fuel Cost Volatility in Rising Electric Bills
When Duke Energy customers across the state got their utility bills earlier this year, many were shocked to find dramatic increases in the rates they were paying. The central reason: the high cost of natural gas. In fact, EQ Research recently issued a report finding that between 46% and 67% (depending on where they live…
Read MoreUnderstanding Solar Net Metering Changes Impacting Duke Energy Customers
(Of note – the changes outlined in this blog took effect in October 2023.) In 2023, the NC Utilities Commission approved changes to Duke Energy’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) policies for all customers—residential and nonresidential. These changes apply to both Duke Energy Carolina and Duke Energy Progress. It’s important for customers to understand the net…
Read MoreBridging the Gap: Clean Energy Equity in North Carolina
Overview of Clean Energy in NC In recent years, North Carolina has emerged as a leader in solar energy adoption with over 9,000 MW of total installed solar capacity. While the overall picture of solar adoption in North Carolina is promising, significant disparities remain regarding who has access to these clean energy resources. Historically, low-income…
Read MoreSqueaky Clean Energy Podcast Transcription: Episode 112
Expediting OSW Development and Resource Diversification in NC (CPIRP) Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan (CPIRP) proceedings will continue to have huge impacts on the state of North Carolina for decades to come, defining how quickly our state can transition to renewable energy sources and who will reap the benefits. In a series of regulatory proceedings, NCSEA,…
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