North Carolina Solar Distributed Generation Evolving Around the Sun

Duke Energy's distributed solar program is well under way in North Carolina. We're installing solar panels on the rooftops and grounds of various homes, schools, office buildings, shopping centers and warehouses – enough to power 1,300 homes.

Scroll over the map below to see how organizations are benefiting from solar partnerships with Duke Energy.

National Gypsum
Highwoods Properties
Food Lion
First Environments Early Learning Center
Childress Klein

National Gypsum

Location:: 1725 Drywall Drive
Mt. Holly, NC 28120
Date Commissioned:: Feb. 2, 2010
System Size:: 1,208 kilowatts
No. of Solar Panels:: 5,252
Physical Size:: 144,960 square feet

National Gypsum is a leader in wallboard production. And the company is out in front when it comes to sustainable business practices, too.

With solar panels installed on the roof of its manufacturing plant in Mount Holly, N.C., National Gypsum feeds clean energy, generated by the sun, into Duke Energy's power grid.

"The solar project is a new chapter in our green ventures," said Tom Nelson, CEO of National Gypsum. "We're proud to be a partner in Duke Energy's efforts to create a sustainable future."

Highwoods Properties

Location:: 2085 Brigham Road
Greensboro, NC 27409
Date Commissioned:: April 1, 2010
System Size:: 1,495 kilowatts
No. of Solar Panels:: 6,500
Physical Size:: 179,400 square feet

Highwoods Properties' Enterprise Park II is a modern building in a state-of-the-art industrial park. So why not have a high-tech, high-performance roof as well? Ask and you shall receive.

"We're participating in Duke Energy's solar program because it benefits our community and our state," said Steve Dixon, Highwoods' corporate manager of building operations. "The building offered a large area that fit nicely into the program. And it's a win-win for everyone – Highwoods, Duke Energy, the community and the environment."

Food Lion

Location:: 2085 Harrison Road
Salisbury, NC 28147
Date Commissioned:: May 4, 2010
System Size:: 1,090 kilowatts
No. of Solar Panels:: 4,746
Physical Size:: 130,800 square feet

Food Lion works to stay ahead of the curve by offering customers new and varied products in its stores. The company's distribution center in Salisbury, N.C., is ahead of the times, too. Nearly 5,000 solar panels sit on top of the building, generating enough power for the equivalent of 140 homes.

"We launched our energy conservation efforts more than a decade ago", said Kyle Mitchell, vice president of Food Lion store development. "Since then, our businesses have reduced energy consumption by more than 2.6 trillion BTUs. Food Lion is an industry leader in alternative energy, and we're excited to be part of the future of energy."

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Location:: 109 T.W. Alexander Dr
RTP, NC 27711
Date Commissioned:: April 1, 2010
System Size:: 109.5 kilowatts
No. of Solar Panels:: 476
Physical Size:: 13,140 square feet

The First Environments Early Learning Center is a high-quality, full-time child care center for the children of EPA employees. Students recently began learning an important lesson in renewable energy when solar panels were installed on the center's roof.

"We are extremely proud and honored to partner with Duke Energy," said Sam Pagan, the EPA's North Carolina site energy manager. "Together, we're providing our children the opportunity to learn about sustainable living and what they can do to ensure a sustainable future."

Childress Klein Properties

Location:: 6935 Reames Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Date Commissioned:: Jan. 29, 2010
System Size:: 532 kilowatts
No. of Solar Panels:: 2,314
Physical Size:: 63,864 square feet

The roof of Childress Klein Properties' new industrial building in Charlotte has a unique look. More than 2,300 solar panels – enough to cover a football field and two end zones – on the building's roof harness the power of the sun to generate clean energy.

"We are a development company with employees who live and work in the communities we serve," said Chris Daly, a partner in the company's industrial division. "Our partnership with Duke Energy helps address our communities' growing need for energy, in a way that is environmentally responsible."

Duke Energy’s solar initiative is among the nation’s first and largest demonstrations of distributed generation, in which electricity is produced at numerous micro-generating sites rather than at a large, centralized, traditional power plant. By 2011, we expect the distributed solar program to generate up to 10 megawatts of electricity annually.

About the Solar Program
Solar panels are installed on the roofs and grounds of homes, schools, office buildings, shopping malls, warehouses and industrial plants.

Duke Energy owns and maintains the solar panels during their expected 25-year lifespan, as well as the electricity generated. And the company pays property owners a rental fee for the use of their roofs or land.

Site Selection
Duke Energy identified solar sites and installed the technology in three phases:

Phase 1 – Complete
Four large nonresidential customers whose sites best met the program’s criteria were selected in 2009. Installations at these sites were completed by April 2010. Combined, the Phase 1 sites are capable of producing 4.3 megawatts of electricity annually.

Phase 2 – In Progress
The program’s second phase focused on nonresidential sites for both rooftop and ground-mount installations. Twelve customer sites were selected and installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010. These sites will generate approximately 4.1 megawatts of emission-free energy per year.

Phase 3 – In Progress
Homes in the McAlpine area of south Charlotte were selected for Phase 3 of the solar program. The area’s existing smart grid technology makes it ideal to further understand how very small solar systems will interact with our existing infrastructure. Installations for this phase are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Learn more by viewing frequently asked questions about the solar distributed generation program.