The Solar Economy: Widespread Benefits for North Carolina

February 23, 2015

Lukas Brun | Danny Hamrick | Jack Daly

This report by the Duke GVC Center for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) describes a solar value chain of investors, solar developers, construction contractors and solar panel and component manufacturers comprising more than 450 companies. Together, these companies support some 4,300 jobs and represent a $2 billion investment. In addition to jobs, solar industry-related businesses provide income for landowners and tax revenue for N.C. towns, the report states.

The Triangle Business Journal published an article (N.C. ranks No. 1 in South for solar energy capacity) on February 20, 2015 regarding the report, highlighting that NC had almost no large-scale solar energy seven years ago, now ranks first in the Southeast and fourth in the nation in solar energy capacity. The Charlotte Business Journal also published an article on March 4, 2015 - New report show how hot North Carolina's solar-power industry has gotten.