North Carolina is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to growing resources for renewable energy. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced in late June that the state will receive $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, to be used by the Department of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) in order to generate new renewable energy projects.
In North Carolina, a revolving loan fund and competitive grants will provide affordable loans to organizations promoting new projects. And the state’s higher education systems will implement a more rigorous training and workforce program.
The federal ARRA legislation includes positive language for the renewable energy industry, among other provisions going toward higher education, infrastructure and healthcare. Its stated energy goal is to provide during the next three years the capital necessary to double U.S. renewable energy capacity.
The $30 million in announced funding is fantastic news for North Carolinians. Only three other states – California, Missouri and New Hampshire – received funding for energy programs. (About $150 million total was earmarked as part of the ARRA state energy initiative.) This significant investment will help accelerate the pace in creating projects like the offshore wind preserve that Outer Banks Ocean Energy (OBOE) has planned.
The federal government has taken an important step in distributing ARRA funds in a calculated manner to states who have demonstrated the capacity to become clean energy leaders. Now it is up to North Carolina to fulfill that expectation.
Through OBOE, we have a wonderful opportunity to give customers a much-needed boost through a clean, efficient technology. Our offshore hybrid energy preserve will harness ocean wind energy and, as time goes on, ocean wave and current power.
Once the state demonstrates that it has successfully implemented its State Energy Program plan, it will receive another $38 million from ARRA. That funding will have a profound impact that will leave a lasting impression on our energy infrastructure. North Carolinians will be part of the federal stimulus funds that will be allocated into a growth industry that now is equipped to blaze a path for offshore wind power in the United States.
August 15th, 2009 at 12:51 am
North Carolina hasn’t put any money anywhere. It has been told the funds are available, but has not said what it will do with the dollars.
May 18th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
We at EPAOC.COM Have a 5 phase solar project that we are still awaiting funding for the project is about 5 months away. The end result will be a 1.44 mw System We are also trying to help property owners and local corprations to provide a clean energy production on a local level as well contact us at http:mymillionsite.org from our contact location if you know of or wish to go green.