RELEASE: Experts discuss renewables on the rise in the Southeast

RALEIGH, N.C. – Clean energy advocates and experts from the Southeast discussed the region’s uneven progress on adopting renewable energy technologies on Wednesday at the webinar Renewables on the Rise in the Southeast, using data from the new Renewables on the Rise 2024 dashboard.

“Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources will help reduce the pollution that fuels extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene, and energy storage can provide a backup power source during future storms,” said North Carolina Research & Policy Center Advocate Emily Mason. “It is imperative that we move forward with more wind energy to provide clean, reliable electricity to the homes of North Carolinians.”

“The stories of resiliency coming out of this hurricane season are inspiring,” said Mia McCormick, advocate with Environment Florida Research & Policy Center, in the webinar. “There were homes that never lost power thanks to solar panels and battery storage, and families who powered their fridges and phones for days with an electric vehicle. It’s a preview into a more storm resilient future if we embrace clean energy technology.”

North Carolina ranks 4th in the nation for solar energy growth, 15th in battery storage, 15th in electric vehicle registrations and 11th in expected energy savings from efficiency measures implemented in 2022. The state ranks 30th in the nation on wind energy, but currently outpaces the rest of the southeast in wind, coming in second overall for total clean energy growth in the southeast. 

Even though North Carolina has a great coastline for offshore wind energy, the full potential for wind energy generation has yet to be tapped. 

“Across the Southeast, wind energy development has been driven by bipartisan support, economic opportunity, and energy resilience,” said Karly Lohan from Southeastern Wind Coalition (SEWC). “North Carolina is already a leader in land based wind development, and it is poised to be a second mover in the offshore wind space as well. This utility-scale, carbon-free energy that wind can provide will play an important role in North Carolina’s transition to a diverse and reliable carbon-free future.”

A combination of state-level renewable energy standards and supportive federal policies have driven clean energy growth in North Carolina so far. To make further progress, state and local leaders should set ambitious carbon reduction targets, like House Bill 951. These actions and policies will help more residents of North Carolina make the switch clean, renewable energy in the years to come.