Date: January 22, 2018
Release: Immediate
Dukes Energy’s Solar Rebate Program a Collaborative Effort
Solar industry, stakeholders, and Duke negotiate for a stronger program
ASHEVILLE – Today Duke Energy has announced long-awaited details of its much anticipated solar rebate program upon its filing with the NC Utilities Commission for approval. This comes after months of negotiations following the passing of House Bill 589, the Competitive Energy Solutions for NC law, in July of 2017 by Governor Cooper.
WNC-based solar energy company Sundance Power Systems’ founder and CEO, Dave Hollister, actively represented the interests of the customer-owned solar industry, along with three other companies from across the state, and the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. “The people of North Carolina and the customer- owned solar industry are grateful for the efforts of Representative John Szoka for marshalling bipartisan support for clean energy legislation in the state,” says Hollister. “With over 80% of North Carolinians supporting solar energy, this rebate program is the first step at abiding by the will of the people to support a clean energy future.”
The significance of this rebate program is that it supports and encourages private ownership and self-generation of clean energy. “From the perspective of energy democracy, when individuals and businesses have the opportunity to invest in solar it strengthens their ability to benefit from this technology, creating a more robust and stable economic future and offering a solution to the externalized social and environmental costs of traditional dirty energy sources. It transforms our dependency on a centralized power structure into personal empowerment, which is the foundation of our democratic system,” added Hollister.
While the terms of the program are still subject to final approval by the Utilities Commission, it should be noted that Duke was responsive to some of the input from the customer-owned industry. The negotiations helped shape a stronger program that better serves NC customers. Duke expects the program to increase North Carolina’s private solar market by 200 percent over the next five years, providing an economic boost for the state’s solar installation business as well as supporting their customer’s choices of owning and directly benefitting from their investment in clean energy.
About Sundance Power Systems: Since its founding in 1995, Sundance Power Systems has been an active leader in the renewable energy industry. Dave Hollister, President and CEO, has been advocating for strong clean energy policies at legislative and utility levels for years, having served on the board of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and participating in WNC’s Energy Innovation Task Force, among others.
For information, please visit www.sundancepower.com.
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