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Mt. Airy solar farm taking shape

Mt. Airy News
Tom Joyce
Staff Reporter
-- After months of planning and discussions, a solar farm is now taking shape in Mount Airy. Along with generating extra electricity, the facility is expected to spark the city’s economic-development efforts, officials say. “I think that companies will look at that and see how progressive we are becoming,” Dean Brown, a member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, said Friday of the solar farm. “And that will make a difference.” The site of the farm is at the southern end of the city near Mount Airy’s wastewater-treatment plant. A firm called O2Energies, based in the Charlotte area, announced plans last year to build the solar farm in response to a mandate that major electrical companies such as Duke Energy supply a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources. The project, representing a $5 million-$6 million venture, originally was expected to encompass a six-acre tract of city-owned property that O2Energies is leasing. Its scope later was expanded, which led to city officials voting earlier this year to annex 32 acres at 165 Wastewater Treatment Road for the development. Martin Collins, the city’s community-development director who has worked closely with O2Energies on the project, said recently that the solar farm is reaching fruition. “The grading is completed,” said Collins, which paved the way for the installation of an anchoring system for the collectors. Previous reports indicated that the solar farm could be generating power by mid-September. The series of panels involved will produce enough electricity to supply hundreds of homes per year, with the solar energy being available at a time of day when usage is at its peak. While that will be important from an energy standpoint, the project also will say a lot about Mount Airy to the outside world, especially prospective companies, according to Brown. “It’s certainly showing our diversification and it’s showing that we are going green and clean with everything we’re doing,” said Brown. In addition to serving as a city commissioner, he is a member of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership who has actively sought to recruit new industry to the area. “Many small towns are not able to do that,” Brown said of such efforts.

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New solar farm provides energy, jobs to Avery County

Matthew Hundley
August 5, 2011
matthew.hundley@averyjournal.com

In early July, construction began on a solar farm, or solar array, outside the Town of Crossnore, on Trim Branch Road. The solar farm, which was constructed across six acres of farmland, consists of hundreds of solar panels mounted on frames and are ideally positioned to absorb the sun’s ray, converting them into electricity and providing energy for local homes. O2 developers coordinated the project, hiring Strata Solar to train workers and complete the installation of the panels. 
Strata Solar needed specially trained laborers for the various aspects of solar panel installation. Because no such workforce existed here in Avery County, Strata Solar collaborated with Mayland Community College in order to select and train a group of capable local men and women for the specific skills needed for the job. In all, Strata Solar has employed 15 individuals, not to mention the various sub-contractors who were required for various aspects of the project. 

Besides a job, Strata Solar also provided those individuals with training. 

John Morrison, the project’s chief operating officer, explained that the company’s goal was to establish a qualified work force across the state, ensuring that future projects could move forward. To accomplish this, they had to train their new employees. Coordinating with Mayland Community College, the company provided free training, not only in the technical aspects of installing solar panels, but also in OSEA standards, in which every worker received certification. Even when the solar farm is complete, workers will have additional opportunities because they will then qualify to sit for the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) exam, which will open up future opportunities in the growing solar energy industry. Morrison hopes that the skills and training that the workforce receives will enable them to work for future O2 Energies or Strata Solar projects. Morrison explained that the Avery County workforce will be highly capable, as each member has had at least some experience with every aspect of solar panel installation, ensuring that they will be prepared for future jobs.

The solar farm, which will be capable, at peak conditions, of producing one megawatt of clean, carbon-free energy per hour, should be completed by mid- to late-August. Morrison predicted that more solar arrays will be cropping up across the country in light of the dropping cost of solar panels. Recent advances and continued research into the production of solar panels has forced the price to drop more that 60 percent during the past three years, and will probably continue to force down prices in the near future. 

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Southeast a holdout in mandating renewables 

AP
August 7, 2011

States across the country are gradually forcing or cajoling their electric companies into buying renewable energy, but the trend has fallen flat in the Southeast.

The map is striking. Of the 11 states that haven't set even voluntary targets on how much alternative energy utilities must buy, eight of them are Southern states _ Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Those involved in the debate say a mix of factors have deterred the states from more aggressively pursuing new sources of energy.

Conservative Republicans are wary of imposing unpopular government mandates. Utility companies that enjoy regional monopolies make little money selling renewable power generated by someone else to their customers. And those utilities are influential, spending more than $74 million this year on federal lobbying, according to tallies by the Center for Responsive Politics. Similar spending happens on the state level. Lobbyists for Georgia Power have spent more than $29,000 this year while meeting with lawmakers, utility and environmental regulators and other officials.

Residents in the Southeast also benefit from some of the lowest electricity bills in the country, making politicians reluctant to tamper with anything that could hit their constituents in the wallet.

"When things are working well, there's a little bit less of an incentive to push for something new," said Jessica Shipley, a solutions fellow for The Pew Center on Global Climate Change, which backs tighter rules.

North Carolina remains the regional outlier. It passed a law in 2007 requiring municipal power companies and cooperatives to get 10 percent of their electricity by 2018 from renewable sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams and chicken and pig manure. Investor-owned utilities will have to meet a 12.5 percent target by 2021. The companies can meet that requirement in part by taking steps to decrease electricity use.

The earliest standard was created in 1983, although analysts at the Pew Center say most states created or strengthened their rules after 2000.

Proponents of the rules say they create a market for alternative energy, wean the country off fossil fuels and reduce emissions blamed for global warming. Not all rules are binding on utilities. Electric companies are required to meet the mandates set in North Carolina. Other states like North Dakota have voluntary programs that do not include penalties.

In rural Newland, N.C., construction workers have been installing the underground electric cables that will soon connect some 4,000 solar panels on part of a Christmas tree farm. The $5 million project, which should be finished next month, will produce enough electricity to power a neighborhood. Joel Olsen, managing director of O2 Energies, said the law forcing utilities to purchase green energy was one of several policy changes that made his project possible.

"Utilities need to have a requirement in order to purchase power, otherwise it makes no business sense to their shareholders," he said.

Former North Carolina state Sen. Charles Albertson sponsored the legislation mostly to help livestock farmers. His law allows power companies to meet part of their targets by burning or extracting flammable gasses from pig and chicken waste.

"We felt we could utilize some of that animal waste and put it on the grid," Albertson said. His other goals included reducing North Carolina's reliance on out-of-state energy and trim its fossil-fuel emissions.

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's attempt to create a renewable energy standard flopped. State lawmakers refused to approve rules setting a renewable energy standard, although an older executive order attempting to set energy goals remains on the books.

Efforts to create a national standard have so far failed. Legislation creating such a standard _ which was part of a defeated cap-and-trade system _ has stalled in Congress. During this year's State of the Union address, Obama called for getting 80 percent of the country's electricity from nuclear, natural gas and "clean coal" with renewable sources such as wind and solar.

Some argue the Southeast lacks the resources for big renewable energy projects. Government studies show the region has less solar energy potential than the West. Wind speeds on land are also relatively low, making wind turbines less productive than in the Midwest or the Great Plains. Better wind could be found offshore, although that increases costs.

Marilyn Brown, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who studies renewable energy policies, said the Southeast has untapped energy at its disposal. She said local states could burn biomass in coal-fired power plants without changing much equipment. Policymakers could make it easier for manufacturers to install generators that convert heat produced by factories into electricity that can be sold to consumers.

"I do think there are some misunderstandings about the available resources," she said.

Utility companies are wary of any policies that could cost their customers and shareholders money. A study this year by the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that coal- and gas-fired power plants coming online by 2016 would on average produce cheaper electricity than the major forms of renewable energy, except hydropower. Brown said many of the most viable streams are already dammed and there's little political appetite for building more. Researchers are investigating whether turbines could be added to existing dams.

Fossil-fuel and nuclear plants have another inherent advantage: they can operate when renewables cannot. A solar panel cannot generate electricity at night. Wind turbines won't spin on a calm day.

The Atlanta-based Southern Co., which operates power utilities in four Southern states, says renewable energy is part of its portfolio, but it opposes a federal mandate forcing it to buy set amounts of that energy. In Georgia, the company says it opposes any mandate that will increase customer bills.

"We are not in favor of anything that is going to put upward pressure on rates and would be uneconomical for our customers," said Lynn Wallace, a spokeswoman for Southern Co. subsidiary Georgia Power.

Of course, the electricity from fossil-fuel plants is not immune to price increases. Utilities plan to spend billions of dollars upgrading or replacing coal-fired power plants to meet more stringent environmental requirements.

Democratic state Rep. Karla Drenner, who has sponsored bills requiring renewable energy use in past years, has never gotten her proposal out of a committee. She said Georgia is missing a chance to create new jobs. Once a market for renewable energy takes off, she expects competition will increase, technology will improve and prices will come down.

But she concedes mandates are deeply unpopular among Southeast conservatives.

"A mandate is a political cussword in a red state," she said.

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Duke Energy files for 15% rate hike

Scott Disavino
Rueters.com
July 1, 2011

NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Duke Energy (DUK.N) said Friday it filed with North Carolina utility regulators to boost power rates by about 15 percent, or $646 million, driven primarily by capital investments made over the past two years.

"Since 2009, we've spent $4.8 billion to modernize the system and comply with environmental regulations," Brett Carter, president, Duke Energy North Carolina, said in a release.

Duke, of Charlotte, North Carolina, said a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of power a month would pay about $97.05 in the autumn. If regulators approve of the rate increase, Duke said the monthly bill would increase by about $19.

If approved, Duke said the new rates would likely go into effect February 2012.

The company said it has already spent most of the capital investments to retire and replace aging power plants and equipment and comply with expanding state and federal environmental regulations.

Specifically, the company said it installed a new sulfur dioxide scrubber on the 562-megawatt Unit 5 at the Cliffside coal-fired power plant in North Carolina to meet federal emission standards.

Duke also said it built a new natural gas-fired power plant at the Buck facility in Rowan County, North Carolina, and installed a new hydroelectric powerhouse at the Bridgewater facility in Burke County, North Carolina.

NEW COAL PLANT FINANCING

The rate increase would also cover some financing costs for the new 825-MW coal-fired Unit 6 at Cliffside, which is under construction and expected to enter service in 2012, Duke said.

"The electric system that serves our customers is aging. That, combined with increasingly stringent state and federal environmental regulations, is driving the company's plan to retire 18 units at five coal-fired power plants and 20 units at four natural gas-fired power plants by 2015," Carter said.

In addition, Duke said the increase was also driven by lower than expected electric sales due to the recession, changes in financing and other general costs.

The company's request proposes an allowed return on common equity (ROE) of 11.5 percent (current allowed ROE in North Carolina is 10.7 percent) with a 53 percent common equity component.

Duke Energy owns about 19,000 megawatts in the Carolinas and serves about 2.4 million customers in North and South Carolina 
 

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Strata files plan for big solar farm.

John Murawski
News and Observer
Staff Writer
April 21, 2011

     A Chapel Hill solar developer is proposing a major solar farm in Western North Carolina.  Strata Solar wants to build a 4.5 megawatt solar farm in Kings Mountain, according to an application filed Wednesday to the N.C.  Utilities Commission. Building the project, 200 miles west of Raleigh, will cost nearly $22 million and require 22,000 solar panels.  If approved by the Utilities Commission, it would be the second largest solar farm in the state, after 15.5 megawatt project in Davidson County that feeds into Duke Energy's power grid. 

    The biggest solar farm in the triangle is a 2.2 megawatt project on the Cary campus of software developer SAS.  Strata plans to sell the power it generates to Duke Energy under a ten year contract, the filing says. The solar farm is expected to begin generating electricity in December. Duke Energy, Progress Energy, and other electric utilities are required to buy electricity from solar farms and other renewable energy producers under a 2007 state law mandating in green energy and conservation.
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Regs not lenders, stand in way of lining up cash

John Downey
Triangle Business Journal
January 14, 2011

    Financing renewable energy projects in North Carolina remains challenging, but some in the industry see those challenges coming less from banks than from the state regualtion. "Many of the solar businesses in North Carolina are on the verge of closing their doors," says Simon Rich, founder and chief executive of Fuqua Rich Weeks, a private equity firm that focuses on energy and agriculture. "I think the bigger problem is a lack coherent state energy policy." 
    Rich is a member of the N.C. Energy Policy Council, charged with developing legislative proposals for Gov. Bev Perdue to present to the General Assembly in January. One big problem, he says, is the way North Carolina treats state tax credits for renewable projects. 
    The state offers a 35 percent tac credit on renewable energy projects- recoverable generally over 5-7 years. They pair with federal tax incentives of 30 percent.  Renewable Energy developers are almost never in a position to take advantage of those credits.  So the consideration for a structured financing deal is always finding abuyer for those tax credits.  That can provide about 60 percent of the financing in a typical solar project, says Michael Byrnes, chief executive at power plant developer NxGen Power in Charlotte. 
    The problem is that North Carolina requires both tax credits to be sold to the same buyer.  That severely limits the number of potential buyers and makes projects harder to finance in North Carolina than other states that allow the credits to be sold separately.  John Morrison of Strata Solar in Chapel Hill explains that it is often difficult to find an institution that has enough federal and state liability to want both credits.  Bank of America Corp., for instance is very active in buying credits.  But it does not have nearly the appetite for N.C. credits as for federal.  A company with large state tax liability often does not need so much federal help. "if we werw able to sell separately, we would see a lot more funds become available," says Morrison. 
    Bank lending in a typical structure finance deal will amount to 30 percent or so of the deal., Byrnes says. And more and more banks are realizing that these can be very secure loans.  Long term power purchase agreements are key, Byrnes says. "There is a steady, lon term revenue stream for the project." Thos agreements typically extend for 20 to 30 years. 
    NxGen develops solar plants with a capacity of 1 to 10 megawatts. The large banks - Bakn of America, Wells Fargo & Co. - are only interested in the largest of projects.  So educating smaller banks on the advantage of renewable project lending is crucial to growth in the sector, Byrnes says. But energy projects have not been part of the traditional portfolio for local banks.  Byrnes says those banks are starting to see an opportunity, and they could foster renewable investment in the state.  A company such as NxGen, which is the developer, will generally put in 10 to 20 percent of the upfront money in the project.  Companies like his may see a limited return in the first several years of the project.  But once the tax credits have run thier course and the tax investor is out of the project, there are 15 years or so of strong returns for the developer.  So with more bansk getting on board, the biggest obstacles remain on the tax policy and regulatory side, Byrnes says. 
    Blair Kendall of Southern Energy Management in Morrisville cites another state issue-the relatively low renewable enrgy portfolio requirements in the state.  The problem there is the sale of the renewable energy credits- which make up part of the power purchase agreements. But Duke Energy Carolinas has all the solar credits it needs for the next four years, and Progress ENergy is also close to filling its quota. That makes it difficult for solar developers to find energy credit buyers for their projects unless, like SEM, they also develop projects outside of the state. 
    Rusty Jewett, cheif executive of the solar panel manufacturer Sencera, says the problem is getting government- at all levels- to follow through on its expressions of support for renewable energy.  "India,China,and Japan have their central governments making a national committment to being manufacturers of renewable energy products,"he says.  "Though we have heard a lot from our government, there is not a lot of meat to it."  

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Halifax EMC installs a 98.6 kW PV System

Della Rose
The Daily Herald
August 29, 2010
Enfield, NC --

     A local electric company goes green to comply with the law and hopes to educate local students at the same time.  Halifax Electric membership Corporation is going to comply with Senate Bill 3, which states electric cooperatives must meet 10 percent of their energy needs through solar power by 2018.
   According to Brady Martin, manager of Marketing and Economic Development, his company is taking the first steps in meeting that compliance and they expect the ground-mount, photovoltaic solar power system to be operational sometime next month.  The system will be installed by Strata Solar LLC and it will be located on the cooperative’s property on Highway 481, beside Enfield Middle School in Enfield, within an eight and one half foot high fence.  Martin said HEMC hopes they and the school will be able to partner in using the facility in the future to teach students more about green energy production. 
   The system will generate about 98 kilowatt hours of electricity per hour at peak capacity, Martin said, adding the average home may use between five and 10 kilowatts per hour.  He said while it’s not a cheap way to produce energy, the goal of the law is to move toward energy independence.  He said BB&T Equipment Finance Corporation, a BB&T leasing subsidiary, is providing financial assistance for the project.  “Hopefully as more of these facilities go up the cost will move down,” Martin anticipates.  We are proud to be a part of this project which is the first of its kind in Halifax County,” says Charles Guerry, executive vice president and general manager of Halifax EMC.
Halifax EMC plans to have a ribbon cutting ceremony at the facility after the completion of construction in September.

Pickards Mountain Eco Institute

April 24 -25 , 2010

Strata Solar / Solar Tech South will participate in the Farm and Solar Tour this weekend, April 24 - 25, at Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute from 1-5 pm each day. The Farm and Solar tour welcomes visitors to tour participating area farms that promote green energy, sustainability projects,  and a genuine concern for the environment. The tour includes a Schuco System solar farm consisting of 500 (100kw) ground mounted solar panels designed by Strata Solar / Solar Tech South.

Pickards Mountain is an educational farm and sustainability learning center residing on 350 acres outside Chapel Hill. Pickards Mountain utilizes three types of renewable energy:  Bio-Diesel, Wind Energy and Solar Power. A hybrid wind and solar system provides all of the electricity for the farm, bio-diesel refinery and living village.

Tickets for the farm and solar tour may be purchased at Weaver Street Market, (Chapel Hill and Carrboro locations) and also online at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. 

Lt. Governor Walter Dalton joined Marcus Wilhelm, owner of Strata Solar / Solar Tech South, and Tim Tobin, owner of Pickards Mountain for a tour of the Eco-Institute earlier this week to discuss green energy and sustainability projects. Toubin is also a partner in the new Greenbridge Condominium project in downtown Chapel Hill.

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WUNC Radio Interview

Tomorrow's Energy

The Daily Tarheel features Chapel Hill Tire

March 2, 2010

Dual flush toilets, rainwater collectors, LED lighting and solar panels are not usually associated with a building dating back to 1905.

Not to mention a car care center.

After three months of renovations to its Carrboro location, Chapel Hill Tire Car Care Center plans to return to a normal business schedule by mid-April, with a much more sustainable building and lot.

“It kind of flies in the face of what people think of when they think of a car care place,” said Joel Sheer, president of Sheer Associates Inc. and marketing manager for the 57-year-old business.

The process was a bit more expensive than using non-sustainable methods, but it certainly wasn’t a deal breaker, owner Marc Pons said.

“It requires different thinking more than it requires a lot more money,” he said.

It was Pons’ membership on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce that first got him thinking about how he could sustainably renovate the Carrboro location of his business.

“It really wasn’t in our financial interest to tear it down. That would have slowed us down,” Pons said.

The chamber had been looking into incorporating green practices into local businesses, he said, using a test from the Green Plus Institute for Sustainable Development.

“I figured as a board member I ought to take the test and see where this stood,” he said.

Once Pons started planning, the idea began to encompass more than installing solar panels.

“Ideas started flying — we said, ‘Let’s install dual flush toilets, use low VOC paints, reuse some of the building materials’ — it got to be really fun,” Pons said.

There are 82 solar panels on the roof, said Ed Witkin, director of solar operations for Solar Tech South. The system will generate about 60 kilowatts a day with about 21,000 kilowatts being generated each year, he said.

The electricity generated from the solar panels will be sold to Duke Energy at a wholesale rate, with the electricity needed to run the center bought back from Duke, Pons said.

“You can actually sell the electricity that’s generated for more than what you buy it for,” Witkin said.

With the circulation of energy being bought and sold and governmental tax credits, Pons said he expected the investment in the panels to be earned back after five years.

Original beams dating back to the early 1900s were kept in place around the entryway and flash concrete, an environmentally friendly type of concrete, was used throughout the facilities, Sheer said.

Impermeable surfaces on the property were torn out and replaced with new landscaping to prevent run-off, and a sitting garden was added for customers to enjoy.

Although the building is not green certified, Pons said he hopes the changes made will inspire other local businesses to make their businesses more efficient.
“Going forward with anything we do, we will try to incorporate what we’ve done in Carrboro,” Pons said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.

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Chapel Hill Christmas Parade

December 12, 2009

Strata Solar / Solar Tech South and the Town of Chapel Hill participated in the annual Chapel Hill Christmas parade on December 12, 2009. Strata Solar / Solar Tech South and local middle school kids built and tested a solar panel and battery system to power the sound equipment for the parade event. The children calculated the power output of the solar panel, connected a battery back-up system, and were taught the fundamentals of where our local power comes from. We would like to send out a special thanks to the Town of Chapel Hill and Wes Tilghman for their assistance. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to next year!

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State of North Carolina

Office of the Governor

November 13, 2009
Contact: Chrissy Pearson
Cell: (919) 215-4669
Office: (919) 733-0767

Governor Perdue Names N.C. Energy Policy Council Members

Raleigh- Gov. Bev Perdue today announced the appointeees to the North Carolina Energy Policy Council. The council was recognized during the past legislative session as part of Gov. Perdue's strategy to make North Carolina a leader in green economy jobs by strengthening state leadership in energy policy and making smart investments to create green jobs and foster innovation.

"We must continue to act aggressively to make North Carolina a global leader in the green economy - and the Energy Policy Council is a critical part of my efforts to strengthen energy policymaking in state government," Gov. Perdue said.
The council will hold its first meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the offices of Advanced Energy on the N.C. State University Centennial Campus.

Tim Toben, of Chapel Hill, a principal in green energy and green building ventures in the state, has been named chairman of the council. He serves on the N.C. Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change and is the chairman of the Board of Visitors at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment.

The law requires that Gov. Perdue's appointees come from specific sectors of the state's energy economy, as follows: 

Electric power industry: George Everett, of Raleigh - Duke Energy
Natural gas industry: George Baldwin, of Charlotte - Piedmont Natural Gas
Energy policy matters: Jo Anne Sanford, of Raleigh - Sanford Law Offices
Alternative fuels and biofuels: Steven Burke, of Oxford - Biofules Center
Energy efficient building design or construction: Tim Toben, of Chapel Hill - Greenbridge Develoment
Environmental protection: Michael Regan, of Raleigh - Environmental Defense Fund
Providing renewable energy services: Markus Wilhelm, of Chapel Hill - Strata Solar / Solar Tech South
Renewable sources of energy: Simon Rich, of Edenton - Fuqua Rich Weeks LLC
County or city commissioner: Rodney W. Locks, of Brevard - Brevard City Council
Development of energy-related business: Henry McKoy, of Durham - Fourth Sector Financial
Low income residential weatherization: Reginal Speight, of Williamston - Martin County Community Action
Petroleum industry: Kevin Garrison, of Concord - South Central Oil Company

Appointed by Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight are Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange and Sen. Richard Stevens , R-Wake. Appointed by Hose Speaker Joe Hackney are Rep. Angela Bryant , D-Nash and Rep. Pricey Harrison, D- Guilford.

Second Class Solar Panels?

Businessweek Magazine
September 14, 2009

New Orleans, LA

Sun-soaked New Orleans should be a great place for solar power. Yet, according to TUV Rheinland PTL , a testing lab, up to 30% of photovoltaic panels installed in such steamy areas of the U.S. are likely to fail in less time than the 25 years manufacturers typically specify in their warranties. Homeowners will be covered , of course, but will still be a hassle. Even in hot, dry areas of failure rates could hit 12%. The same producers' panels probably won't fail as quickly in Europe, where vendors agreed to performance and quality standards back in 1999. In the U.S. , only the state of Florida has followed suit. As a result, "manufacturers make two grades of panels: one for the U.S. and another for Europe," says Mani Tamizhmani,TUV's president. Panels do have to pass federal tests for safety in the U.S. but "consumers here don't yet know how to ask for quality certifications," he says. Below is a cut away of the Schuco low flow serpentine copper tubing inside the solar thermal panel. There are numerous major differences this panel provides to most other manufacturers in the market.

Click here to link to the Businessweek online article.

Orange County pines for its days in the sun.

June 27, 2009 from Triangle Business Journal

Hillsborough ,NC

Orange County's future just might revolve around the sun. The county is working on multiple fronts to bring solar technology companies to the area, create new jobs and launch a solar installation training program projected to start this fall at Durham Technical Community College.

Brad Broadwell, director of the Orange County Economic Development Commission, says that with interest in renewable energy surging and federal stimulus dollars available for renewable energy companies and projects, the time is right for the county to position itself as a "solar cluster."

"All the signs told us there was a viable opportunity to build a cluster of business in this area," he says.

Broadwell already can point to some successes. Strata Solar / Solar Tech South, which sells residential and commercial photovoltaic and solar water heating systems from German company Schuco, opened in Chapel Hill this winter. And Hillsborough company Solar Revolutions is considering opening a facility in the county to make its photovoltaic roof shingles.

Solar Revolutions owner Karim Saleh­mohammed says he's contracting with a Swiss company to make the shingles because he could not find a U.S. company to make them. He says he wants to open an Orange County facility within six months, though he's yet to pick a location.

Ultimately, Broadwell would like to see his solar cluster take a physical form. To that end, he's talking with the developers who proposed the Buckhorn Village retail development near Mebane. With the retail plans on the shelf, Broadwell says, a solar park could be a way to develop the land and stimulate the county's economy. The site still needs county approval for new utilities.

Broadwell has been talking with county commissioners about setting aside funds in the fiscal 2010 budget for incentives to attract solar companies. "Their success will build our cluster," he says. "Our success will build their companies."

Before breaking ground, companies want to know about worker training, Broadwell says. Durham Tech is developing a curriculum for solar installers. Greg Mimmack, program director for electronics engineering technology, says the college plans a one-year diploma program that will lead to certification in photovoltaic installation.

The college also is developing a shorter certification program for those who already have a background in electrical work. The college is partnering with companies that are offering equipment and instructors for the program. The college is also applying for a $250,000 grant from Duke Energy.

The number of jobs that await the students depends largely on the solar companies, Broadwell says. Solar Tech South President Markus Wilhelm says his company will need installers, but the number hired will depend on the amount of business that comes his way.

Wilhelm says he's keeping watch on how federal stimulus dollars will be spent. If schools and local governments can tap the money to retrofit facilities with renewable energy technologies, Strata Solar / Solar Tech South could capture a share of that business, he says.

"The economic development group was looking for new businesses, new industries," Mr. Wilhelm says. "Our timing is good. People are ready for (solar technology).

Summer campers to erect solar panels

Jume 21, 2009 from The Herald-Sun

Chapel Hill, NC

CARRBORO, NC — Summer camp students will team with town government and a local business to erect renewable energy solar panels at the Town Commons.

The town of Carrboro received funding from Duke Energy Carolinas for the project, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 29 at 301 West Main Street in Carrboro.

Communities In Schools of Orange County's "Green Awakening (TGA) Math and Science" summer camp will participate in the solar panel project. Communities in Schools is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization addressing the multiple needs of youths to prevent educational, social and economic failure.

Randee Haven-O'Donnell, a member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, has been the liaison between schools, government and businesses in the promotion of "green" projects and such school endeavors.

The town of Carrboro also invited Strata Solar / Solar Tech South of Chapel Hill, whose business focuses on energy sources that are renewable and non-emitting. Solar Tech professionals will work alongside and teach TGA students during the two-hour project.

According to Sheila D. Sholes Ross, executive director of Communities In Schools of Orange County, there are discussions focusing on creating "green" apprentice training programs with area businesses. Community leaders, local businesses and government, area colleges and universities are all "mapping out" strategies to implement and sustain green training and jobs, she said. Watch the NBC news video.

Solar Tech South to Lead in Local Energy Economy

 February 10, 2009 

Chapel Hill,  N.C. — Solar Tech South, a new company focused on customized installation of premium integrated solar energy systems, will open its doors this week.

Based in Chapel Hill, Solar Tech South offers integrated photovoltaic and thermal solar systems customized to fit each client's energy needs. Partnered with Schuco, a world-leading manufacturer of German engineered solar energy technology, Solar Tech South systems are virtually maintenance-free and are fully warranted for up to 25 years.

"Converting residences and businesses to solar energy is a win-win solution. Solar is a smart move for the environment, for your quality of life and for your wallet," said Markus Wilhelm, President and CEO of Solar Tech South.

According to the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, with recent improvements in state and federal tax incentives, customers will be reimbursed for up to 65% of the installed cost of a solar energy system. Taking into account tax credits and the cash value of power generation, most customers will see their solar investment turn into a positive cash flow right away.

"These tax credits make solar energy an increasingly viable and financially savvy move for home and business owners alike," said Wilhelm. "North Carolina is a frontrunner in U.S. alternative energy policy and Solar Tech South is prepared to deliver the best solar technologies on the market."

Solar panels have the additional benefit of increasing a home's value by decreasing monthly utility bills. According to the National Appraisal Institute, for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills, a homeowner can increase their property value by $20 without increasing property taxes.

With climate change, dependence on foreign oil and renewable energy production as keystone issues in President Obama's administration, Solar Tech South is positioned to be a leader in the new energy economy, said Wilhelm.

"There is a growing demand for solar energy across this country and this region. We are pleased to play a role in the growth of this vital industry," said Jochen Wilms, Senior Vice President Member of the Executive Board, Schuco International KG. "We are delighted to partner with Solar Tech South in offering the latest solar technologies."

Wilms recently visited Chapel Hill to meet with Solar Tech South executives and finalize launch logistics. Based in Germany, Schuco has been manufacturing and delivering complete solar energy systems across the globe, and has been in business for more than 55 years.

Solar Tech South will be hosting a series of events over the next several weeks to introduce their services, and to educate the community about Schuco solar systems and the benefits of solar energy.

For more information on Solar Tech South, visit www.solartechsouth.com. For more information about Schuco's state-of-the-art solar energy products, visit www.schuco-usa.com.

Solar Installation Company Launches Partnership with Schuco

Chapel Hill , NC

December 29, 2008 -- Solar Tech South, a new company focused on customized installation of premium integrated solar energy systems, opened its doors this week.

Based in Chapel Hill, Solar Tech South offers integrated photovoltaic and thermal solar systems customized to fit each client's energy needs. Partnered with Schuco, a world-leading manufacturer of German engineered solar energy technology, Solar Tech South systems are virtually maintenance-free and are fully warranted for up to 25 years.

Solar Tech South has partnered with the German company Schuco and is the exclusive installer of the solar energy systems for the Southeast. Schuco's systems are virtually maintenance-free, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing.