In response to NCSEA's collaborative work to create a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard law in North Carolina, our State's clean energy markets are now developing rapidly.  Sencera International Corporation's recent announcement to build a thin-film solar manufacturing facility in NC is just the most recent example.  Read several stories on this below:

http://www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com/rea/news/story?id=53021&src=rss
"Sencera International Corporation announced that it plans to invest US $36.8 million in a new manufacturing plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company said that the plan was made possible in part by a US $62,000 One North Carolina Fund grant as well as local incentives from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County."

http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/07/07/daily6.html
"Sencera International Corp. will invest $36.8 million to build a solar-module factory in Mecklenburg County.  The company, which develops devices that convert solar energy into electricity, expects to create 65 jobs here over the next three years.  Salaries will vary by job type, but the average annual wage will be $73,462, not including benefits. Mecklenburg County’s average annual wage is $48,724."

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/nc/story/1134074.html
"RALEIGH - A solar-panel company will create 65 jobs and invest more than $36 million in the next three years to build a factory in Mecklenburg County."

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS32590+08-Jul-2008+BW20080708
"Sencera International Corporation, a manufacturer of thin film solar (photovoltaic) modules is expanding in Charlotte. The company plans to invest $36.8 million and create 65 jobs during the next three years. It was made possible in part by a $62,000 One North Carolina Fund grant as well as local incentives from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121556087828237463.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_mostpop

[Watch video of Pickens speaking on same webpage as full news story.]

"One of the benefits of being around a long time is that you get to know a lot about certain things. I'm 80 years old and I've been an oilman for almost 60 years. I've drilled more dry holes and also found more oil than just about anyone in the industry. With all my experience, I've never been as worried about our energy security as I am now. Like many of us, I ignored what was happening. Now our country faces what I believe is the most serious situation since World War II.

...The future begins as soon as Congress and the president act. The government must mandate the formation of wind and solar transmission corridors, and renew the subsidies for economic and alternative energy development in areas where the wind and sun are abundant."

http://www.energycentral.com/centers/energybiz/ebi_list.cfm

"Utilities are now in the heat of battle. While they would like to maximize their sales, they must now persuade their customers to save energy. It's a quest that will help defer investments in expensive and contentious infrastructure and in doing so, prevent the release of some harmful emissions.

Instead of investing millions in power plants to meet the 100 or so hours a year when energy demand is highest, utilities are turning to their customers to reduce energy usage...."

http://www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com/rea/news/story?id=52943&src=rss

 

 

http://www.newsobserver.com/print/wednesday/business/story/1087504.html 


"Half the coal burned by Progress Energy's and Duke Energy's power plants would become illegal in North Carolina under legislation proposed Tuesday by state Rep. Pricey Harrison. The Guilford County Democrat wants to outlaw importation of coal that has been extracted by a controversial form of strip mining known as mountaintop removal. The process involves blowing up several hundred feet of mountaintop to expose embedded veins of coal."
...
"Progress and Duke import nearly all their coal from Appalachian coal mines. About half the coal -- about 15 million tons a year -- comes from mountaintop removal, while the rest comes from underground coal mines. North Carolina is one of the nation's top users of mountaintop coal."
...
"But coal prices have doubled in the past year, and Progress and Duke are seeking rate increases to pass costs on to their customers. Progress recently asked for a 6 percent rate increase in South Carolina and will file a request soon with state regulators in North Carolina. Duke is seeking a 4 percent increase. Both companies say worldwide demand for coal is the main driver of the price increases."