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Executive Summary
North Carolina is perfectly
poised to grow solar. With four
hours of peak sun per day, the Tar Heel state has twice as much sun as Germany,
the world's solar leader. The state's top-notch universities and
technological centers are home to some of the world's best solar
innovators. The world’s largest installation of solar heating and cooling
technology is already complete in Western North Carolina. And according
to the NC Utility Commission’s own study, solar energy creates three times as
many jobs as coal-power per megawatt.
The recently-passed
American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) allocated $134 million to North
Carolina state and local governments specifically for energy efficiency and
renewable energy, giving North Carolina cities, towns, and counties and other
public entities an opportunity to invest in solar energy—while creating jobs,
stimulating the economy, and starting the path towards a clean and prosperous
energy future for the state.
This report details
ARRA funding allocations; processes and application deadlines for receiving
funds; and solar investment options for a range of public and private
entities. The report highlights
how some communities are already taking the lead in proposing solar projects. Finally, this report gives
recommendations for other policies to encourage solar power and resources for
further information.
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