Solar and Renewable Energy
Articles and Position Papers


         Articles are drawn from various sources and do not necessarily state NCSEA's research or opinion.  Position Papers (below) are official publications of NCSEA.


General Solar/Sustainable Energy Information

Comparison of control versus solar and energy efficient houses in central Florida.
Solar house has 4kW photovoltaic system and solar water heating as well as several other energy-saving features. One of the results: "Zero Energy home used 72 percent less power from air-conditioning than did the control home, despite the fact that the occupied Zero Energy home maintained cooler indoor temperatures." From the Florida Homebuilders' Association Magazine May/June 00.

 
Solar House Plans for North Carolina, volume 2
Complete plans for a variety of houses, sponsored by the state Energy Office and published by the NC Solar Center. This is a large (3333kB) .pdf file

 
Considerations for Installing a Solar Domestic Water Heating System
This briefly describes siting, plumbing, electrical, and timing issues. Download it as a 17k .pdf (Portable Document Format) file.
 
Solar Basics
Introductions to solar technologies. Currently we have sections on passive heating design, photovoltaics, and active water and space heating. More to come.
(portions courtesy of NC Solar Center, Howstuffworks.com, Sandia Labs, and Texas State Energy Conservation Office.)

 
"Talk of the Nation Science Friday" Radio Broadcast: Micropower
Science Friday 10/6/2000 about decentralized generation of electricity (fuel cells, solar, microturbines, etc.) and the effects on the electric grid. In Real Audio format (requires Real Player software); this archive broadcast plays reasonably well with a dial-up modem connection or better.

 
NC Income Tax Credits, Federal Tax Credits, and Loans
for installation of renewable energy equipment. NC offers thirty-five percent tax credit for many renewable energy systems; commercial systems are also eligible for ten percent federal credit as well as accelerated depreciation. Various federal agencies offer loans for purchase of renewable energy equipment.

 
American Solar Energy Society Position on Tax Credits
At the SOLAR 2000 Conference in Madison, WI, there was much discussion of an ASES position on tax credits. The ASES Board voted to solicit member discussion on this issue before taking a position. A memo summarizing the issues has been posted on the ASES web site at:

At the end of the memo there is a link to a discussion board where you can post your opinions or react to the opinions of others. We look forward to your comments.

Issues, Policy, and Legislation: local, state, and national


 
NCSEA's response to the docket before the Utility Commission
in consideration of a green pricing program. Green pricing is an optional utility service that provides customers an opportunity to support increased renewable energy production. Participating customers pay a premium on their electric bill to cover the incremental cost of the additional renewable energy. A green pricing program provides additional moneys to purchase the output of renewable generators and thereby encourages the development of new renewable resources and maintenance of existing resources.

 
NC Clean Smokestacks Plan
Controlling air emissions from power plants is the single most important action that North Carolina can take to clean our dirty air. The silver lining of the air pollution cloud in North Carolina is that the citizens and officials of the state can solve this environmental problem. All the ingredients for success are in place: The only thing that stands in the way of clean air now is leadership. This 32-page .pdf file, published March 2001 by a coalition of twelve environmental, public health, and citizen organizations, gives details.

 
Update on the NC Deregulation Study Commission
Notes of the meeting Jan 23, 2001: the commission is 'treading water', but will study how to avoid California-like problems, the feasibility of setting up a system by which utility customers could voluntarily contribute money to support clean alternative energy sources, and concerns that some small hydropower producers (dams) are in deep financial distress.

 
Conservation Council Poll 8/2000
North Carolina voters rank the environment and clean water and clean air among their top concerns, right on par with education, says a new poll released August 2000. The poll also found that environmental issues figure strongly in voting decisions, and that voters believe that governmental action is needed to protect the environment.

 
Green Electricity Poll
Results of 1998 UNC School of Journalism poll, in which several questions directly addressed renewable energy.

NCSEA Position Papers

Policy Primer
A sketch of the different issues and initiatives on which NCSEA's policy committee is working, including tax credits for renewable energy equipment, net metering, green power, public benefit fund, clean smokestacks legislation, and the Powering the South study. (Aug. 2001)
 
Public Benefits Fund for North Carolina
NC needs a mandatory Public Benefits Fund to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy and assist low income North Carolinians with energy efficiency and bill paying. Investments by the PBF will lower residential and small business energy bills, clean our environment, bring in new Federal grants, creat jobs and prepare small energy users for the coming changes in the energy markets. The PBF we are proposing is less than $2.00 per year for residential customers and it would generate $20 million per year. Numerous environmental, consumer, and low income groups have been meeting on a PBF for 2 years and have defined a program all parties can support. Most states that have restructured electric utilities have included a PBF to protect the environment and low income consumers. We are proposing to start a PBF in advance of any restructuring because the utilities have backed away from all their efficiency and renewable programs and government funding will dry up soon. Additionally, low income needs are not being met now and a coordinated program of assistance and weatherization would greatly improve health, safety, and housing stock.

 
Voluntary Green Energy Program
North Carolinians want to buy clean, renewable energy. We have been talking to NC utilities for the past 2 years and they have not responded. NC imports all its fuels from outside NC. A green energy program will make a cleaner North Carolina by reducing our need for coal electrical generation, create new jobs and new businesses, use existing NC energy resources, help solve our animal waste problems and diversify our energy production to protect us from uncertain future natural gas prices. [For details, see NCSEA's comments to the Utility Commission(.pdf format).]

 
Alternatives to Polluting Electric Generation
Editorial summarizing the alternatives NCSEA believes should be used to offset or replace coal or gas-burning electric generation, and how owners of small generating sources should be allowed access to the grid. (Aug. 2000)

 
Electric Utility Restructuring
Status, potential, and benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements in NC; NCSEA's recommendations of what to include in restructuring legislation. The four following links are to specific sections of the summary.
          Public Benefits Fund
          Renewable Portfolio Standards
          Status of Renewable Energy in NC
          Public Benefits of Using Renewable Energy


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