N.C. Energy Office Leverages Utility Funds for Weatherization, Garners Wind Award

August 2006

The North Carolina Energy Office began a project at the end of July to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes in five counties. The energy office buys materials in bulk, which it then provides to nonprofit organizations that use volunteer labor to install the efficiency improvements.

The Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte and provides natural gas to almost 1 million customers in Tennessee and the Carolinas, will provide $400,000 to fund the weatherization project. The funding comes from a settlement the company reached with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in November 2005 having to do with how the company calculates its bills. (The North Carolina Attorney General has asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to review the case and is seeking an additional $750,000 from the utility for weatherization.)

In a July 28 interview published in the Charlotte Business Journal, energy office director Larry Shirley said that he hopes this project leads to more cooperation between regulators and North Carolina utilities.

Earlier in the month, the energy office was recognized with the DOE Wind Powering America 2006 Regional Wind Advocacy Award. The Wind Program announced the award on July 6 at the Windpower 2006 conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to recognize the energy office for identifying areas in the state with favorable wind energy resources. These areas include the Atlantic coastline, eastern sounds, and many Appalachian ridgelines.

Shirley said, "Wind power is an excellent source of renewable energy for North Carolina because it is environmentally friendly, cost effective and helps spur economic development." For more information, see the North Carolina Energy Office July 6 press release (MS Word 30 KB).