May 6 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bruce Henderson The Charlotte Observer, N.C.


The N.C. Utilities Commission today rejected Duke Energy's appeal of an earlier ruling on its $50 million plan to reap power from solar panels mounted on rooftops.

Duke had asked the commission to reconsider its December ruling that allowed the solar-rooftops plan, but limited how much the utility could pay for its project.

The commission had told Duke it could recover some, but not all, of its costs under the state's recently-adopted law requiring utilities to generate power from the sun, wind or organic wastes.

Duke argued that limitation would place it in jeopardy of violating federal tax codes, and hinted that it might not proceed with the solar project.

The commission today reaffirmed its earlier decision.

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