North Carolina

ENN

Home rooftop solar dips in N.C. after Duke Energy reduces payments, but many installers unfazed

New household solar connections in Duke’s territory were on pace to drop about 40% compared to 2023, but a rebate for pairing batteries with solar systems has helped maintain a steady market for established installers.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 5 November 2024
Solar

How solar microgrids are bringing power (and quiet) to North Carolina

In areas hit by Hurricane Helene, the nonprofit Footprint Project is replacing noisy and polluting generators with solar panels and batteries.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 28 October 2024
Transmission

Biden admin awards $2B in new grid resilience grants

The third round of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants target the hurricane-ravaged Southeast U.S. as well as nationwide projects to bolster the grid.

By Jeff St. John . 18 October 2024
Distributed energy resources

Hurricane Helene underscores need for more solar-battery microgrids

Distributed solar and batteries are helping North Carolina communities that were cut off from grid power by flooding. Should utilities build them into resilience plans?

By Jeff St. John . 18 October 2024
ENN

Even with N.C.’s building code frozen, federal rule poised to boost energy-efficient housing in the state

An updated standard under a 2007 energy law signed by President George W. Bush will require new homes with certain federally-backed mortgages to meet 2021 model energy codes.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 19 September 2024
ENN

North Carolina appeals court upholds Duke Energy’s lower net metering rates

Judges rule state regulators had "de facto" performed a study of rooftop solar’s costs and benefits, as required by law

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 17 September 2024
ENN

Commentary: Footing the power bills for AI is anything but smart

As more energy intensive industries take root, we must protect our residents from both the increases in our power needs and our monthly power bills.

By Sophie Loeb . 9 August 2024
ENN

Before key hearings in North Carolina, Duke Energy makes tiny concessions to big gas ambitions

The utility has defended its plan to build out new power plants, and says a state law requiring a 70% emissions reduction by 2030 is "unachievable."

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 18 July 2024
ENN

N.C.’s ratepayer advocate: Duke Energy ‘failed’ to consider incentives that would cut costs & enable more clean energy

The state’s ratepayer advocate says tapping into an Inflation Reduction Act loan program would save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and make more clean energy the ‘least cost’ option.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 25 June 2024
ENN

Groups urge N.C. regulators to push Duke Energy on solar and wind, pump the brakes on new gas

A review of comments shows clear dissatisfaction with Duke Energy’s proposed Carbon Plan, which critics say put arbitrary limits on solar and assumes technology will emerge to run fossil fuel power plants without emissions.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 12 June 2024