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The Latest Misinformation About the Impact of NC’s Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard
Last week, the Civitas Institute published a report, “North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard: Examining the Economic Effects” that criticizes NC’s Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, or REPS. The NC General Assembly passed Senate Bill 3 in 2007, which included the REPS, with overwhelming support. Despite attempts by opponents to repeal the REPS law in recent…
Read MoreJuly Giga-Thought: Why is an energy vision for North Carolina’s energy economy necessary now?
By NCSEA’s Ivan Urlaub & Diane Cherry New energy technologies are becoming ever more affordable and changing our homes, how and where we work, and the infrastructure connecting and powering our communities. For several decades, energy consumers in North Carolina have relied on service from their energy utilities. When we only had five resources (coal,…
Read MoreJune Giga-Thought: Better Policies Needed for our Growing Energy Economy
By Robert “Tate” Rust, Waterfurnace International, Territory Manager Since the expiration of North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Investment Tax Credit (RE ITC) in 2015, many things have changed. South Carolina approved a tax incentive for any individual or business installing geothermal ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and Virginia appears to be on their way to something…
Read MoreThe Truth on Wind Power: Myth vs. Fact
In 2015, wind energy was the number one source of newly installed electric power capacity in the United States. According to the American Wind Energy Association, there are approximately 1,000 utility scale wind projects – which represent 74,512 megawatts (MW) and over 48,800 wind turbines – installed across 40 U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and Guam. There…
Read MoreNCSEA statement: Gov. McCrory announces 155 new manufacturing jobs for Halifax Co.
NCSEA applauds the work of Governor McCrory, Secretary of Commerce Skvarla, legislators, local elected officials and others who worked to bring SWELECT solar manufacturing to Halifax, NC. This new renewable energy manufacturer will add 155 new jobs to the existing 26,000+ clean energy jobs located in all regions across North Carolina and will continue bolstering…
Read MoreACTION ALERT: Contact Senators TODAY with concerns on H169
Last Thursday, the Senate began consideration of a new, comprehensive “regulatory reform” bill (HB169), which includes several concerning energy-related items. This bill could be voted on by the full Senate as early as this afternoon. The primary concern is Section 3.2 (Lines 10-13 of Page 8 of H169 4th Edition) which repeals the requirements state agencies…
Read MoreAdvancing Clean Energy with Untapped Resources
By Larry D. Yon, II and Dr. Robert J. Brown Can a socially diverse and inclusive clean energy ecosystem be the missing link to addressing our world’s greatest environmental, economic and community concerns? This thought piece will explore the impact of increasing diversity and inclusion of thought and action…
Read MoreNCSEA Celebrates DOE Announcement of Solar Ready Vets Program at Ft. Bragg
The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) applauds yesterday’s US Department of Energy announcement of five new Solar Ready Vets training programs, including a program at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC with Fayetteville Technical Community College as the training provider. NCSEA worked with the Energy Department, the NC Military Business Center, and Fayetteville Technical Community College to connect…
Read MoreAction Alert: Bill to Add Onerous Fees, Regulations on Renewable Energy Industry & Limit Private Property Rights
ACTION ALERT: Senate Bill 843 It’s hard to believe that in a state which was just voted #3 for business, you’d see a bill adding 10 pages of new permitting regulations to a thriving North Carolina industry. Senate Bill 843 was filed yesterday by Senator Bill Cook (R-Beaufort) and Senator Andrew Brock (R-Davie), and seeks to bring renewable…
Read MoreApril Giga-Thought: Certification of Regulatory Professionals: Why Not?
CERTIFICATION OF REGULATORY PROFESSIONALS: WHY NOT? By Scott Hempling* Accountants, architects, barbers, cosmetologists, crane operators, dentists, docking masters, doctors, electricians, engineers, foresters, home inspectors, interior designers, landscape architects, lawyers, land surveyors, pilots, plumbers, private detectives, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers, security systems technicians, security guards and tax preparers. These are among the professions my…
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