As part of Duke Energy’s US$500 million commitment to solar energy in North Carolina, construction activities are starting to get underway at three PV facility sites.
The three installations, located in the counties of Bladen, Duplin and Wilson are expected to be operational by the end of 2015.
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Shawn Condon, town manager of Warsaw, located in Duplin county, said: “It's exciting for the town of Warsaw to be involved in a project this size that involves a rapidly growing technology like solar. Once completed, the facility will strengthen the town's ability to attract other potential businesses.”
During the peak of its construction in mid-2015, more than 900 workers are expected to be placed at the three sites. Once completed, the three installations will boast a combined generation capacity of 128MW.
Rob Caldwell, senior vice president of distributed energy resources at Duke Energy, added: “We are excited to partner with these communities to build and own facilities that offer customers additional options to use solar energy. Renewable energy will continue to be a growing part of our generation mix in the Carolinas.”
The first project — the Warsaw Solar Facility — is set to become a 65MW facility that will be built over 202 hectares and will be comprised of 850,000 solar panels. It is currently the largest solar facility under construction in North Carolina.
The second plant — the 40MW Elm City Solar Facility — will be developed in Elm City in Wilson County and will be built with around 500,000 solar panels.
The final installation — the 23MW Fayetteville Solar Facility — located on N.C. Highway 87 in Bladen County near the Cumberland County line, will be located on 48 hectares of land.
These plants comprise part of Duke Energy’s expanded portfolio in North Carolina, along with a 13MW plant set to be developed Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Onslow County.
Duke Energy currently owns or has purchased over 600MW of solar capacity in North Carolina from over 600 installations.
While the company continues to develop new projects in North Carolina, recent rulings from government leaders could potentially trip up the PV sector going forward within the state.
State House leaders in North Carolina recently filed a bill that would cut the state’s RPS target from 12.5% to 6% and cut it short to finish in 2018, as opposed to 2021.
