A Citizens Guide to the NC REPS

In August 2007, North Carolina adopted a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) with the passage of Senate Bill 3.

In doing so, North Carolina became the 25th state ― and the first in the Southeast ― to enact such a policy. North Carolina’s REPS law requires the state’s electric power providers to generate a portion of our electricity needs through renewable energy resources and energy efficiency.

In an effort to help individuals, businesses, government, nonprofits and others understand our state's REPS law

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Legislative Guide

NCSEA first published our annual legislative guide in 2005, and in some years it has been read by more than 15,000 people. Annually, this guide reaches over 10,000 citizens, playing a vital role in educating the public about pending and recent legislation concerning: renewable energy, energy efficiency and high performance buildings, energy and economic development, climate change, and other energy sources. The guide also explains how a bill becomes a law, and overviews the form and function of the NC Utilities Commission.

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Levelized Cost of Solar Photovoltaics in North Carolina

NCSEA's latest study “Levelized Cost of Solar Photovoltaics in North Carolina” shows that conventional electricity costs for North Carolina residents and businesses have increased by an annual average of approximately 3 percent over the past decade. And that all the while, the national trend for the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and their subcomponents has declined by 37 percent from 2008 to 2010. The installed cost per watt (W) of solar PV in North Carolina has also decreased from $8.50/W to $5.44/W from 2006 to 2011. In all, that is a 36 percent drop in price, making solar power more accessible in our state.

“The cost of solar power has continued to drop making it a more competitive and viable energy resource,” said Carrie Cullen Hitt, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association — the national trade association of the U.S. solar industry. “As the demand for electricity grows, so does the need for new sources of energy. This is a dynamic time for the solar industry which has the potential to satisfy a good portion of that demand.”

As a result, solar companies have experienced a spike in business allowing them to undertake more projects that create jobs, stimulate the economy and make solar electricity more affordable to a wider variety of consumers. As of Sept. 30, 2011, North Carolina ranked 8th in the U.S. for cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity.  And as of Oct. 31, 2011, there were 1,142 solar PV systems totaling over 128 megawatts (MW DC) of capacity registered with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to be installed in the state between 2006 and 2011. These systems range in capacity from residential systems to one of the largest solar projects on the East Coast located in Davidson County. Driving the growth of solar PV system installations are the declining installation costs and North Carolina's policy environment.

“Solar electricity continues to improve in efficiency and cost as a viable energy resource well into the future,” said Miriam Makhyoun, the study’s primary author and NCSEA’s Solar & Renewable Energy Industry Specialist.

Key findings from the “Levelized Cost of Solar Photovoltaics in North Carolina”

•  For many electric utilities, solar PV systems greater than 10 kW with federal and state tax credits were at grid parity in North Carolina in 2011.
• For all North Carolina electric utilities, solar PV systems greater than 500 kW with federal and state tax credits achieve grid parity or become cost competitive with commercial retail electricity prices in 2015.
• For all North Carolina electric utilities, solar PV systems greater than 10 kW through 500 kW with federal and state tax credits achieve grid parity or become cost competitive with commercial retail electricity prices in 2018.
• For the majority of North Carolina electric utilities, solar PV systems 10 kW or less taking federal and state tax credits achieve grid parity or become cost competitive with residential retail electricity prices in 2020.
• For many electric utilities, solar PV without federal and state tax credits will be at grid parity or cost competitive with retail electricity prices in North Carolina in 2020.

Download NCSEA's "Levelized Cost of Solar Photovoltaics in North Carolina" to read the complete report.

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NC Clean Energy Data Book

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) has compiled all of this valuable information and much more into the first-ever 2011 NC Clean Energy Data Book.

The NC Clean Energy Data Book explores existing and potential clean energy (ex. renewable energy and energy efficiency) infrastructure and opportunities in every region of our state.  With over 100 maps, charts, and tables, the Clean Energy Data Book is the first comprehensive North Carolina clean energy landscape overview of its kind.  This new resource helps to evaluate and understand how the different and unique elements of this rapidly growing industry fit together to provide more than 14,800 full time equivalent jobs and economic opportunities for our citizens. North Carolina continues to be one of the leading clean energy states in the Southeast – and becoming a national leader in several areas such as smart grid and solar.

Click here to download the full report.

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NCSEA Annual Reports

Across North Carolina, NCSEA's members, staff and Board of Directors are changing how we use, generate and think about energy. NCSEA works over-time to keep our State ahead of our Southeastern peers in almost every aspect of renewable energy, energy efficiency and high-performance building. Our intent is to provide North Carolina with a clean, secure, affordable and prosperous energy future. Read our latest annual report or browse past editions to learn more.

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North Carolina Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Industries Census

North Carolina’s clean energy economy continues to provide diverse employment for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds in every region of our state. The 2012 NC Clean Energy Industries Census, an annual publication by the NC Sustainable Energy Association, conservatively estimates over 15,200 clean energy jobs at 1,100 companies located in 86 out of 100 counties. This report also found these companies generate more than $3.7 billion in annual revenues.

The growing clean energy industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, despite one of the longest and most severe recessions in our nation’s history; however, current economic, policy and regulatory uncertainity could limit future growth. Click here to learn more.

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Understanding the Impact of Electric Generation Choices on North Carolina Electricity Rates

Given increased public interest regarding electricity costs in the wake of Duke Energy’s recent proposal to increase residential electric rates by over 17 percent, NCSEA examined North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) dockets to objectively evaluate the role of electric utilities’ energy resource choices as drivers of electric rate increases in North Carolina over the past decade, focusing largely on how much recent rate changes have been due to fossil and nuclear fuel costs, new coal and natural gas power plants, and compliance with North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS).

Click here to read the full report

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