Duke Energy proposes innovative solar energy plan for N.C.

Duke Energy, one of the chief providers of electricity in North Carolina and the United States, has proposed a $50 million plan to install electricity-generating solar panels on up to 425 sites in North Carolina.

Due to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) policy passed in 2007, 12.5 percent of electricity produced by utility companies in North Carolina must be renewable and efficient energy by 2021.

Beginning in 2010, 0.02 percent of that must be produced by solar energy alone.

“It does cost more than coal and fossil fuel energy sources, but we believe the outcome will be more beneficial to everyone,” said Dave Scanzoni, spokesman for Duke Energy.

“The project will produce eight megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,300 homes.”

Duke Energy’s plan, one of the first of its kind, will allow them to place solar energy panels on sites such as homes, schools, churches, shopping malls and large-scale buildings and factories, and would utilize the energy for the entire Duke power grid.

Before the plan can be put into action, it must be approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission and investigated by the N.C. Public Staff, a consumer advocacy agency.

“Duke Energy’s original $100 million proposal was far too large-scale and expensive, so they chose to cut their plan in half, making it a more cost- and energy-efficient $50 million plan,” said James McLawhorn, director of the electricity division for N.C. Public Staff.

Program participation is voluntary and candidates can submit their property on Duke Energy’s Web site.

The only major prerequisites include having a roof less than five years old and being a current Duke Energy customer and N.C. resident.

Scanzoni said that the site owners will receive an undetermined monthly payment for granting Duke Energy the ability to use their property and won’t have to pay anything for the installation.

The only bill they will have to pay is a regular utilities bill, which will remain roughly the same.

“We will be responsible for installing and maintaining the sites. Everything will be left to us — we will just be using someone else’s property,” Scanzoni said.

Scott Sutton, state spokesperson for Progress Energy, another major energy provider, said energy providers have a part to play in reducing global warming.

“The world is facing growing energy demands, there are more people moving to the state and fuel costs are rising. There’s also the challenge of global climate change, and we are a significant player in addressing this,” he said.

“There’s no silver bullet for addressing rising energy demand and global climate change, but the energy providers can and want to do their part.”



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