Dive Brief

• Duke Energy Renewables has starting building 30 MW of solar in North Carolina, which will more than double the amount of utility-scale solar it owns and operates in the state.
• The renewable developer is building the 20-MW Dogwood solar project near Scotland Neck. The company is also building two 5-MW projects near Windsor and near Bethel. The plants will be located in the PJM footprint.
• Once the plants start operating in 2015, Duke Energy Renewables plans to sell power from the facilities under long-term contracts, but does not have them in place yet.

Dive Insight

Duke Energy Renewables already owns 23.5 MW of solar in North Carolina, which has a renewable energy standard that climbs to 12.5% in 2021. Duke's 1,700-MW renewable portfolio is mostly concentrated in the West.

While coming of a low base, solar development in North Carolina is soaring. At 122 MW, North Carolina had the sixth most solar installed last year, up from 45 MW in 2011, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.