Renewable Energy

City of Durham, Durham County Government, and Durham Public Schools join Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program

  • Durham-based Carolina Solar Energy and Pine Gate Renewables help develop 35-MW solar facility to generate clean, renewable energy for Durham partners

  • Project expands solar power development in North Carolina 

  • Durham partners make significant progress toward clean energy goals

Read the Duke Energy Press Release

Powering a Bright Future  

Cities of the future will be powered by clean, renewable, and affordable energy sources, such as solar and biogas. The City of Durham’s Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan lights our path forward. 

We’re committed to increasing our use of renewable energy in City operations to 80% by 2030, and 100% by 2050.  

We envision solar panels on City buildings powering City operations with zero-emissions, renewable energy. We see utility-scale solar farms that increase the City’s solar capacity and drive down the cost of electricity for all. We see a future with healthier air and a cleaner environment for all. And, we see this clean energy revolution providing good paying jobs in our community and saving money by reducing our City’s energy bills.  


The City’s strategy to reach 100% renewable energy: 

    • Reduce energy use in City buildings and operations through energy conservation and efficiency  
    • Transition the City fleet to electric and electrify our buildings and operations 
    • Install on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays on more City rooftops and on City property 
    • Purchase solar capacity through Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program 
    • Investigate how to harness more of the biogas produced at our Water Reclamation Facilities to power City operations 

The City’s path to 100% renewable energy relies heavily on Duke Energy’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.  



GREEN SOURCE ADVANTAGE 

The City of Durham took a huge leap forward in its ambitious Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan through an innovative partnership with Duke Energy, local solar developer, Pine Gate Renewables, Durham County and Durham Public Schools. This landmark deal will reduce the community’s reliance on greenhouse gas producing fossil fuels by adding almost 35 megawatts of solar capacity from one large solar facility.  


This initiative, which is part of Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program, is expected to connect to the grid by 2025.  


The City’s share of the solar deal is expected to generate 20 megawatts of renewable energy every year or approximately 50% of the renewable energy needed to reach the City’s goal to power City operations with 100% renewable energy sources by 2050.  


 

PV in the Community 


Solarize the Triangle

Solar power not only saves the planet, it saves you money on your monthly energy bill! That’s why the City has partnered with Triangle J Council of Governments and 10 other Triangle communities to Solarize the Triangle. This community-based bulk-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage and other clean energy technologies is designed to help homeowners, businesses and nonprofits save up to 25% on the cost of renewable energy systems. 


Solarize the Triangle ‘22 resulted in over 1.7 MW of new solar in the Triangle!  


Solarize the Triangle ‘23 is LIVE! 

 

SolSmart

The City is also committed to making it faster, easier and more affordable to go solar by: 

  • Creating an online permitting checklist, increasing transparency for community members and solar installers 
  • Reviewing local zoning codes and identified restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development 
  • Allowing solar by-right accessory use in all zones (so solar installations don’t require special permits or hearings) 
  • Cross-training both inspection and permitting staff on solar PV 
  • Providing a streamlined permitting pathway for small PV systems

We are proud that Durham has achieved Gold designation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s SolSmart Program.   

 

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