North Carolina ranks third in new solar power operations

May 05 - News & Record (Greensboro, NC)

A survey of electric utilities released Monday ranks North Carolina third in the nation for new solar power operations added in 2014.

The Solar Electric Power Association of Washington, D.C. , said North Carolina is behind California and Arizona for most megawatts of solar power capacity added by large utilities during the year.

Duke Energy ranked fourth among utilities for adding solar capacity in 2014.

California has the most aggressive solar power industry, installing more than 3,000 megawatts of capacity in 2014.

Arizona and North Carolina added a fraction of that amount, just over 200 megawatts each. In North Carolina , a megawatt is enough to power an average of 95 homes for a year. That number, however, varies by state climate conditions.

Duke Energy accomplished its contribution primarily by buying 150 megawatts of solar power from five companies located in Beaufort , Richmond , Bladen , Scotland and Cleveland counties.

The top three utilities were all from California : Pacific Gas and Electric , Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric .

Duke Energy's solar expansion is fueled, in large part, by demanding North Carolina regulations that require utilities to add an increasing portion of renewable energy to their sources of power.

Those regulations are being challenged in the current General Assembly .

Mandates established by the legislature in 2007 required utilities to buy 3 percent renewable energy by 2012, 6 percent by 2015, 10 percent by 2018 and 12.5 percent by 2021.

An amendment to a House bill called the "Regulatory Reform Act of 2015" would halt expansion of the requirement at the current 6 percent.

House Bill 760 could be debated as early as today.

Watchdog groups say Duke is behind the challenge because it wants to maintain its levels of production through fossil fuel and nuclear power generation.

Regardless of its motives, Duke Energy's investment has fueled the state's rise to the top.

In September 2014 the company said it plans to spend $500 million to add eight solar projects that will produce 278 megawatts.

Company spokesman Randy Wheeless said Monday that Duke has started construction on three solar farms in Duplin , Bladen and Wilson counties and plans to start building a solar operation soon at Camp Lejeune in Onslow County .

An April 27 blog post by the Rocky Mountain Institute calls Duke Energy a leader in helping North Carolina become a top solar energy state.

The institute, a nonprofit advocate for renewable energy, praised the utility's investment of $4 billion in solar power since the state's mandates were passed in 2007.

The post also credited much smaller utility companies in the state for pushing the growth of solar energy.

Contact Richard M. Barron at (336) 373-7371, and follow @BarronBizNR on Twitter.

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