From the Sea to the Sun: NC's Focus on Solar Energy Expansion
The expansion of solar power usage in North Carolina follows ill-fated attempts to create jobs in non-renewable energy sectors like oil and natural gas (Source)
According to the UN General Assembly, only 11 years remain for world leaders and governments to address climate change before it causes irreversible damage to Earth. As the issue of climate change weighs on the minds of governments and citizens alike, grassroots movements mobilize communities and raise awareness of this issue on the local level. North Carolina residents are no strangers to this kind of activism, as recent policy issues surrounding our state’s energy production drive support for a shift toward renewable resources.
Since President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement in November of last year, the movement away from collective action and international cooperation leaves states open to pursuing their own environmental policies. Additionally, contention between the federal government and the states surrounding offshore drilling has put Democratic governors like Roy Cooper at odds with the Trump administration.
Currently, Trump’s plan to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic remains on hold, and many environmentalists, business owners and coastal residents in N.C. are hoping it never comes to fruition. With the oil off the coast of N.C. currently untapped, the government must find other ways to create jobs and power the state.
As attempts to expand non-renewable energy sectors in North Carolina fail, the state has turned to the sky for a greener, more sustainable answer. Currently, North Carolina’s extensive use of solar photovoltaics puts the state at second in the nation for its use of this solar power energy. In 2018, Governor Cooper signed the Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina, a law aimed at integrating renewable sources into the state’s electricity generation. The bill allows for a 2.6 gigawatt increase in solar energy over 3.5 years. The legislation encourages this expansion by partnering with Duke Energy to offer rebates to customers, benefitting both residents and business owners who install solar panels. Additionally, residents who go solar are exempt from paying additional property taxes on the increased values of their homes. Overall, these incentives make going solar an affordable and sustainable option for North Carolina.
N.C. is home to 314 solar companies that have created 6,719 jobs and invested millions into future development. Additionally, major corporations like Apple, IKEA, and SAS have relied on solar power for their operations in North Carolina. These corporations benefit from the N.C. specific incentives of the 2018 law, as well as increased investment tax credits from the federal government. Apple’s enormous solar farms in Catawba County greatly contributes to the company’s use of 100 percent renewable energy to power its operations. Furthermore, the price of using solar energy has plummeted more than 50 percent since 2011, providing an additional motivation for both large and small businesses to make the switch.
The impact of solar power expansion can be observed right here on UNC’s campus: 172 thermal solar panels help contribute to energy conservation in Morrison dormitory, which won the EPA’s National Building Competition for its energy efficiency in 2010. As students continue to lead environmental activism efforts on campus with projects like the Three Zeros Initiative, they hope that this advocacy can lead to ripple effects across the state. Climate change remains a pressing issue on both a local and global stage, and North Carolina’s support of the solar industry serves as an outstanding example of the power of renewable energy for the United States and the world.