South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper has announced that the EnergizeNC coalition in North Carolina has been awarded $156 million by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enhance the use of solar energy in communities across the state. The funding, provided through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) grant program, aims to make low-cost, reliable solar energy more accessible, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged areas.

In response to the grant award, Governor Cooper expressed gratitude and highlighted the significance of this funding for North Carolina's clean energy future. He stated, “This funding will help cut energy costs and help families across North Carolina live cleaner and healthier lives.”

Julie Woosley, Director of DEQ's State Energy Office, emphasized the importance of the Solar for All program in providing clean energy opportunities for low- and moderate-income households. She mentioned, “More than 70 organizations have offered letters of support for the EnergizeNC proposal, and we look forward to working with community stakeholders across the state to bring the greatest impact.”

Melissa Malkin-Weber, Co-Director of the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund, highlighted the significance of the Solar for All funding in bringing clean energy to households with significant energy costs. She noted, “The North Carolina EnergizeNC program design aligns solar with existing low-income energy efficiency efforts, to provide long-term affordability.”

The EnergizeNC coalition, comprised of various organizations including the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office, Advanced Energy, the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, and the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund, aims to deploy rooftop solar on low-income homes to help residents save money on energy bills.

The coalition's goals include creating a comprehensive program management approach, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fostering environmental justice, developing a trained workforce, and ensuring that project benefits reach disadvantaged communities and individuals.

Autumn Proudlove, Associate Director – Policy & Markets at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, emphasized the importance of overcoming traditional market barriers to distributed solar through innovative approaches. Steve Kalland, Executive Director of the Center, added that the program will focus on enhancing energy savings and delivering quality outcomes for consumers.

Brian Coble, Chief Operating Officer at Advanced Energy, expressed enthusiasm for the historic opportunity presented by the grant. He stated, "Advanced Energy is excited to work with our coalition partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the installed systems are safe, durable and reliable, and that they perform as expected to provide financial savings and environmental benefits for our underserved communities."

The EnergizeNC coalition plans to launch a statewide program to facilitate the rapid deployment of distributed solar and associated storage, with a focus on benefiting low-income and disadvantaged communities, including Tribal lands.

Individuals interested in staying informed about the deployment of EnergizeNC can sign up for updates on the coalition's website at www.energizeNC.org.