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RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina legislators recently voted to extend NC’s 35% state tax credit on renewable energy systems until 2016.  House Bill 512 not only continues the state’s pertinent tax incentive, but it also extends the credit to Geothermal Heat Pumps.

The bill now moves to Governor Bev Perdue to sign it into law.  In the meantime, thank your state legislators for their support of this bill:

Rep. Hugh Holliman, Hugh.Holliman@ncleg.net
Rep. Pricey Harrison, Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net
Rep. Paul Luebke, Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net

This is a HUGE win for North Carolina’s developing clean energy economy, our valuable businesses and employees, and sustainable energy consumers and supporters!
- NC Sustainable Energy Association

RALEIGH (July 6, 2009) — Progress Energy Carolinas is offering its commercial, industrial and government customers new ways to plug in to solar energy. The SunSenseSM Commercial Solar PV and Solar Water Heating programs provide incentives for non-residential customers that install qualifying solar PV (photovoltaic) or solar thermal systems.

SunSense Commercial Solar PV — This program provides incentives to non-residential customers that install rooftop-mounted PV systems ranging in size from 10 to 250 kilowatts (kW). Customers must apply to participate in the program and, if approved, agree to sell all energy and renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the system to Progress Energy for 20 years.

Progress Energy will pay customers 18 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for all metered energy and associated RECs. Federal and state tax incentives are also available to businesses and can be combined with payments from Progress Energy to help make solar installations economically feasible for more customers. Commercial solar PV systems typically cost $6,000 to $8,000 per kW installed; however, installation costs can vary by system type and size.

SunSense Commercial Solar Water Heating — Non-residential customers can receive incentives through this program for installing rooftop-mounted solar water heating systems ranging in size from 1,200 to 4,000 square feet of collector area (roughly 30 to 100 solar thermal panels). Customers must apply to participate in the program and, if approved, agree to sell all RECs from the system to Progress Energy for 10 years.

Participating customers will be required to install a thermal meter to record and report system output. The measured output will then be converted to a REC equivalent. Progress Energy will pay customers $20 per REC for all metered thermal energy.

Commercial solar water heating systems vary in cost based on system type and size. Customers should contact a solar installation professional to determine appropriate sizing, costs and potential benefits.

Both new programs are available to non-residential customers served by Progress Energy Carolinas. Incentives are available for systems approved in advance by the utility and installed after July 6, 2009. Previously installed or unapproved systems are not eligible for the program.

Information on both programs is available at www.progress-energy.com/sunsense.

Progress Energy’s SunSense also includes a residential solar water heating pilot currently available and a residential PV incentive that will be offered later this year. Progress Energy has made a commitment to investing in renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency and state-of-the-art power plants, as part of its balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of its customers.

Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Award, the industry’s highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder’s Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

(original post at http://www.progress-energy.com)

via lasvegassun.com

Background on Nellis solar power system:

• The Nellis solar power system, completed in December of 2007, is America’s largest solar photovoltaic array.
• The plant will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually and supply approximately 25% of the total power used at the base, where 12,000 people live and work.
• The system covers 140 acres of land at Nellis AFB, 33 acres of which are a capped landfill which has been reused for this “green” energy project. The array is made from over 72,000 solar panels which track the sun to maximize the solar renewable energy we can receive.
• It will reduce carbon emissions by 24,000 tons annually.
• Using a “first-of-its-kind” public/private partnership, this project (which cost over $100M to construct) cost the AF less than $100,000 in capital costs, yet saved Nellis over $1.2M in its first year of operation.
• The Nellis solar power system is joint venture between the U.S. Air Force; Renewable Ventures; SunPower Corporation; and N.V. Energy.
• It took over 200 workers to build the array.

“What happens in Vegas should not stay in Vegas.”

NC Governor recently visited 1.0-MW solar field at the SAS campus in Cary. Perdue is highly supportive of NC building a strong green workforce:

Governor Perdue Announces Reforms to Strengthen Green Economy via governor.state.nc.us
Governor Bev Perdue today announced her energy reform package to attract businesses, create jobs and promote a strong and sustainable green economy in North Carolina. She made the announcement at the SAS Solar Farm in Cary, which provides solar-generated power to Progress Energy.

“Developing our green economy is a cornerstone of my vision for North Carolina’s economic future,” Gov. Perdue said. “Creating green jobs and businesses is a key part of my JobsNOW initiative, and the energy reforms I am implementing will lay the foundation for North Carolina to lead the nation in green energy.”

Gov. Perdue’s energy plan refocuses state energy policymaking, makes strategic investments in North Carolina’s green economy and increases green-collar workforce development.

“The state that gets green right will own the next 50 years,” Gov. Perdue said. “I intend for North Carolina to be that state.”

Governor Perdue’s energy plan:

• Relocate the State Energy Office and state weatherization program to the Department of Commerce: The weatherization program will be transferred to the State Energy Office from the Department of Health and Human Services. The State Energy Office will be transferred to the Department of Commerce from the Department of Administration, and will be led by a new energy advisor. Establishing the Department of Commerce as the home for state energy policy will improve coordination across programs to deliver these services more efficiently and effectively.
• Reinvigorate the Energy Policy Council: The plan reduces the number of council members and improves representation for environmental groups, alternative energy producers and energy services specialists. The council will work with the State Energy Office and the energy advisor to help create a comprehensive energy policy that encompasses renewable energy and energy efficiency and that uses existing energy assets wisely.
• Establish an Energy Investment Revolving Loan Fund: With $18 million in federal recovery monies, this innovative fund will provide low- and no-interest loans to finance energy-saving projects at businesses, local governments, non-profits, state agencies, community colleges, universities and public schools. The loans will be awarded for up to $1 million. The fund will extend the scope of federal recovery funds and will ensure that these funds continue to support the state’s commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency well into the future.
• Expand the Green Business Fund: $10 million in federal recovery funds will be used to expand the Green Business Fund, which Gov. Perdue led the drive to create in 2007. The fund awards competitive grants to North Carolina businesses and organizations with innovative projects in biofuels, green construction, environmentally friendly technology and renewable energy products.
• Grow North Carolina’s green workforce: Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative will provide green-collar jobs training and retraining in community colleges. As part of JobsNOW, the governor will use nearly $7 million in federal recovery funds to develop a program in universities, community colleges and workforce agencies that will meet the training and workforce needs of the emerging green economy.
• Invest federal recovery monies for other energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in small businesses, communities and homes across North Carolina: Other investments using federal recovery funds include $12 million to support energy savings and renewable energy initiatives in small businesses and industries, $58 million for energy and efficiency block grants to cities, counties and tribes, and $12 million for energy efficiency audits and improvements for new and existing homes, among others.

SAS Solar Farm:
The 1.0-MW field was completed and activated in December 2008. The system is on a single-axis tracker and harvests about 1.7 million kWh each year. SAS has a contract to sell back electricity to Progress Energy Carolinas. The field is located on 4.8 acres on SAS’s campus in north Cary, NC.

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