5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in North Carolina

According to Renewables on the Rise 2024, the eighth edition of our annual report on the state of clean energy in America, North Carolina now generates 1,405% more solar power than it did in 2014. This increase means that we can power an additional 1,093,596 households each year with clean energy.

Here are five interesting facts about clean energy’s growth in North Carolina:

1. North Carolina generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all solar generation before 2018 combined.

North Carolina produced 12,085 GWh of solar energy last year, up from 803 GWh in 2014. This was enough to bring us to 4th place in the national solar rankings.

2. There was no reported battery storage capacity in North Carolina until 2020, now we’re 15th in the country.

As of 2023, North Carolina has installed 0.06 gigawatts of battery storage capacity. This ranks North Carolina 15th in the country.

3. There are now 63,768 electric vehicles registered in North Carolina.

The number of EVs has grown 4,090% since 2014. North Carolina is ranked 15th in the country in terms of EV growth in the past 10 years.

4. North Carolina added 1,164 EV charging ports in 2023.

This was a 38% increase from 2022 and a 507% increase from 2014. North Carolina now ranks 12th in the country in EV charging ports installed.

5. North Carolina’s first large-scale wind turbines went online in 2017, now we’re producing more than 500 GWh annually.

Though wind energy was down across the board in 2023, we’ve still seen a significant growth since 2014. North Carolina is ranked 30th in the country in wind generation.

Our clean energy growth over the past 10 years has proven the viability and significance of these renewable energy sources. By taking advantage of the opportunities to continue these trends, North Carolina can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

What can state and local leaders do to keep renewable energy growing? 

State and local governments can support renewable energy by:

• setting renewable energy goals with clear benchmarks
• leveraging federal resources to reach renewable energy goals. 
• ensuring that utility policies fairly compensate the owners of renewable energy technologies 
• support policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting renewable energy technologies easier. 
• expand efficiency programs, including updating energy codes for buildings and adopting the latest appliance efficiency standards.

You can help renewable energy continue to grow in North Carolina by taking action below.