Governor Perdue Visits SAS Solar Farm

On Thursday, Gov. Perdue toured the SAS Solar Farm in Cary, which was completed last December. The farm's 5,040 solar panels, which swivel to track the sun across the sky, generate 1 megawatt of electric power at peak and is projected to produce 1.7 million KWH per year and eliminate 1,600 tons of carbon emissions annually.

The solar field occupies 4.8 acres of land, which also serves as a pasture for Dorper Sheep; they are shorter than other breeds and therefore able to graze beneath the panels. You can see them in the background of the photo below.

Gov. Perdue also took this opportunity to announce reforms to strengthen NC's green economy. According to a press release by her office, her energy plan refocuses state energy policymaking, makes strategic investments in North Carolina’s green economy and increases green-collar workforce development. More specifically, the governor said she plans to use about $35 million in federal stimulus funds to improve work force training in higher education, boost grants and create loans for small businesses in emerging green energy fields. Funds will also be used to improve energy efficiency in businesses, homes and other buildings.

Duke Energy Acquires its First Wind Farm in Eastern U.S.

Duke Energy took another step in expanding its renewable energy portfolio with the announcement that it is acquiring a 70-megawatt wind power project in Pennsylvania – the company's first in the eastern U.S.

Duke Energy has more than 500 MW of wind-powered generation in operation – a figure that will rise to more than 700 MW by the end of 2009. The company has an additional 5,000 MW in potential wind energy development projects. To read the complete press release, visit Duke Energy online.

DSIRE Launches New Solar Website

DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the NC Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The new DSIRE SOLAR site still has all the features of the DSIRE site, including the interactive map, but now displays solar incentives only. Users can specify whether they want PV or solar thermal (or both) incentives when using the state-by-state map.