NC shines in strong month for renewable energy

North Carolina shows up well in a report from Greentech Media that points out that renewable energy, largely solar, accounted for essentially all the new electric-generation capacity that came on line last month in the United States.

North Carolina ranked second among states for new solar projects.

Using figures compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Greentech notes that 325 megawatts of power came on line during January. That included 287 megawatts of solar, 30 megawatts of geothermal steam power, four megawatts of wind power, three of biomass and one megawatt classified as “other.”

While most of the new solar projects are in the West, 15 percent of the new solar came from North Carolina.

Duke and Strata

Duke Energy Renewables'  20-megawatt Dogwood Solar farm in Halifax County, built by Charlotte’s SunEnergy1 of Mooresville, was the largest N.C. project that came on line last month.

But Strata Solar, based in Chapel Hill, also brought 20 megawatts on line last month. Strata’s total came in four separate projects — its Marshville Farm Solar project in Union County, the Nash 58 Farm in Nash County, the Waco Farm Solar project in Cleveland County and the Wagstaff Farm I Solar project in Person County.

California easily took first place with 191 megawatts worth of new solar with two projects. No other state had more than 20 megawatts worth of new solar.

Interconnection work

In Nevada, a geothermal project totaling 30 megawatts came on line.

Duke Renewables will sell the power from its Dogwood Solar project to Dominion North Carolina Power. Spokeswoman Tammie McGee of Charlotte-based Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) says the farm is producing power. But there is some interconnection work remaining before the power goes out on the Dominion grid.

Strata is selling Power from its four projects to Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress.

via NC shines in strong month for renewable energy – Charlotte Business Journal.