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North Carolina clean energy and building performance nonprofits NCSEA and NCBPA sign merger agreement
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) announced today the merger of the North Carolina Building Performance Association (NCBPA) with NCSEA—bringing together two of the leading voices in North Carolina’s clean energy transition. Conversations about the consolidation of the two nonprofit organizations has been ongoing for several months, and as of July 1, 2021 the NCBPA…
Read MoreEpisode 51: Energy Storage
Last Friday, episode 51 of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, “David Roberts on the Future of Energy Storage,” was released. Host Matt Abele interviews former Vox journalist David Roberts who, in December 2020, launched his own energy and politics newsletter called Volts. Roberts explains that Volts “features analysis of the latest research, technologies, and policy debates involved in the quest to leave behind fossil fuels, along…
Read MoreSeeing the Light: The Fight Against HOA Solar Restrictions
Homeowner associations (HOAs) have a long history of restricting residents from installing solar panels because of how they look from the public areas. In the United States, where more than half of the nation’s neighborhoods are governed by HOA Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), these contracts pose one of the most prevalent obstacles faced by prospective solar homeowners. NCSEA…
Read MoreHow N.C. Voters Feel About the American Jobs Plan
The American Jobs Plan is an investment-centric plan introduced by the Biden administration on March 31, 2021. The main goals of this plan are to invest in American infrastructure and communities in order to reimagine the economy. A large focus of the plan is on clean energy infrastructure, including an investment in the transition to…
Read MoreEquitable Transportation: Why It Matters
Originally published in June 2021 – Clean Energy Storyteller. Coauthored by Janelle Martin and Chris Maxwell. Communities of color are generally left out of the conversation when it comes to e-mobility. Most people think of Elon Musk/Tesla or see dollar signs when they hear the term electric vehicle (EV). But how do black, brown, and…
Read MoreRide Along with Chris Maxwell
Originally published in June 2021 – Clean Energy Storyteller. Coauthored by Janelle Martin and Chris Maxwell. With last month’s national gas shortage, the conversation regarding the importance of electric vehicles (EVs) is greater than ever before. According to Cox Automotive, the interest for EVs skyrocketed where 50% of consumers indicated they were suddenly more interested…
Read MoreNCSEA Statement on Stakeholder Energy Legislation
Today, North Carolina House leadership shared the first public bill draft of comprehensive energy reform legislation following months of stakeholder negotiations. NCSEA is appreciative of its inclusion in the stakeholder process and grateful to House leaders for facilitating robust discussion around critical energy issues. While there are important provisions in the bill that provide greater…
Read MoreCelebrating 50 Episodes: Squeaky Clean & Gov. Cooper
On June 10, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) released its milestone 50th episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, “Get the Scoop on Clean Energy with Gov. Cooper,” where host Matt Abele conducted an exclusive interview with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on the progress of NC’s Clean Energy Plan from 2018 and his newest Executive Order 218 which states NC’s…
Read MoreClean Energy in Appalachia
The Appalachian region encompasses a large region of the United States stretching from the Southern counties of New York all the way to Northern Alabama and Mississippi. This region is historically known for its coal mining practices but is also well-positioned to encourage the shift to a clean energy future. Over the past few decades, there has been a decrease in the demand for…
Read MoreSCEP: Episode 49 – What’s in Store(age)?
The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast released its 49th episode, titled “What’s in Store(age) for North Carolina,” spotlighting North Carolina’s unique opportunity to support the onshoring of lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle manufacturing. In recent years, energy storage technology has become significantly cheaper, making it a viable accompaniment to popular renewable options, like wind and solar energy. While energy storage options range from mechanical to thermal, lithium-ion batteries have become the…
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