North Carolina Hosts Most PURPA-qualifying Solar Facilities in America

Aug. 23, 2016

Local policies pushing for alternative energies have put the state ahead of the rest.

North Carolina exceeds all states in total number of PURPA-qualifying solar facilities despite having less favorable resources, and also holds the second-highest amount of installed utility-scale photovoltaic (PC) capacity owned by independent power prproducers in 2015, falling only behind California.

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) has encouraged states like North Carolina to promote alternative energy resources and energy efficiency, and had since influenced the diversification of the electric power industry to pursue utility-scale solar PV growth. The state has followed this trend by adopting state policies like the renewable portfolio standard and the state renewable energy tax credit.

Currently, 1,173 MW, or 92%, of North Carolina's 1,271 MW utility-scale PV capacity is certified to have qualifying facility (QF) small power producer status under PURPA, which is more than any state in both absolute and percentage terms.