Joining the North Carolina Solar Boom
Posted from NRG's Power Perspectives
Today we’ve got Carolina on our minds.
Our solar team is pleased to announce that our first solar farm in the Tar Heel state — the MC-1 solar project in Williamston, North Carolina — is now online and operational.
The 6.5 Megawatt (MW) DC (5 MW AC) solar photovoltaic facility is providing clean, renewable energy for residents and businesses in North Carolina.
The project — which created approximately 60 jobs during construction — was jointly funded and is co-owned by NRG and NRG Yield through the previously announced partnership between both companies.
“This exciting project continues our ongoing leadership role in the American renewable energy landscape, and is our first facility in North Carolina’s vibrant and growing solar market,” said Craig Cornelius, head of Renewables for NRG. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to serve Dominion North Carolina Power and its customers through this facility and couldn’t be happier with the quality and efficiency that our partners at ET Capital brought to its construction.”
Solar is booming in North Carolina. In 2015, the state installed 1,140 MW of solar electric capacity, ranking it second nationally, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Installed solar capacity in North Carolina has grown by 187% over the last year.
The NRG team will be overseeing operations of the facility, which features 20,672 photovoltaic modules producing solar energy that will be 100 percent purchased by Dominion North Carolina Power. ET Capital, a member of the ET Solar Group, served as lead developer and engineering/construction provider for MC-1.
"We thank NRG for their partnership on this first joint project,” said Boris Schubert, CEO of ET Capital. “The project is a good illustration of how our engineering, procurement and construction capabilities — coupled with our development offering — can help investment partners in North America."
