North Carolina Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in North Carolina. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for North Carolina. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
- State leadership
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for North Carolina
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
North Carolina has few reserves of fossil fuels and produces about 4% of its electricity at conventional hydroelectric facilities.
Read a more complete energy summary for North Carolina, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) North Carolina Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 315 (million Btu) |
State rank | 35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 236.0 (million Btu) |
State rank | 31 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | 0.4% | State rank | 15 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 2.7% | State rank | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 1,872 (million kWh) |
State rank | 16 |
North Carolina has a traditional regulated market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 2.7% per year, which is one-fourth again higher than the national average. Meanwhile, population is growing at 1.5% per year, which is half-again higher than the national average.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 28% of all energy consumption in North Carolina, which makes it the largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy. North Carolina ranks 12th in ethanol consumption. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in North Carolina from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 512 (gallons) |
State rank | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 116,410,255 (gallons) |
State rank | 21 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 132 | State rank | 37 |
| Population | 8,679,000 | State rank | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 66.8% | State rank | 33 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.5% | State rank | 12 |
| Per capita personal income | $31,041 | State rank | 35 |
| Gross state product | $374,525 (million) |
State rank | 11 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for North Carolina put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
North Carolina has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
North Carolina has a mandatory statewide energy code for both commercial and residential buildings. Residential buildings must meet the requirements of the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and can use REScheck for compliance. Commercial buildings must meet the requirements of 2003-IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2004 and can use COMcheck for compliance.
Corporate tax credits for renewable energy
The N.C. corporate tax credit provides for 35% of the cost of renewable energy property constructed, purchased or leased by a taxpayer and placed into service in North Carolina during the taxable year.
Loans for energy efficiency
The Energy Improvement Loan Program is available to North Carolina businesses, local governments, public schools, community colleges and nonprofit organizations for projects that include energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.
Personal tax credits for renewable energy
The N.C. personal tax credit provides for 35% of the cost of renewable energy property constructed, purchased or leased by a taxpayer and placed into service in North Carolina during the taxable year.
Rebates for energy efficiency
The Steam Trap Survey Rebate Program provides steam trap survey services to facilities that use steam for heating or processing.
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard requires all investor-owned utilities in the state to supply 12.5% of 2020 retail electricity sales from eligible energy resources by 2021, with set-asides of 0.2% solar electricity and thermal energy by 2018, 0.2% swine waste by 2018, and 900 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of poultry waste by 2014.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
North Carolina requires all new state buildings and large renovations be designed, constructed and certified to exceed the energy efficiency requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-2004 by 30% for new buildings, and 20% for renovations.
State Leadership
Governor Bev Perdue (D) began serving as governor in 2009. Previously, she served as lieutenant governor, worked as a public school teacher, and served as director of geriatric services at a community hospital.
The North Carolina Legislature is composed of a senate with 50 members and a house of representatives with 120 members. The legislature is usually in regular session for 3–8 months starting in the beginning of the year. The senate majority leader is Tony Rand (D). The senate minority leader is Phil Berger (R). The speaker for the house of representatives is Joe Hackney (D).
The North Carolina Utilities Commission regulates electric, telephone (including payphone service and shared tenant service), natural gas, water, wastewater, water resale, household goods transportation, busses, brokers, and ferryboats. The commission chairman is Edward S. Finley Jr.
The State Energy Office administers the DOE State Energy Program in North Carolina and advises the state's executive and elected leaders about energy policy. The office director is Larry Shirley. The DOE State Energy Program publishes contact information for the North Carolina energy office.
