North Carolina tops in the nation for PURPA-qualified solar facilities
North Carolina has the highest number of Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) qualified facilities in the nation, a report released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed on Tuesday.
The EIA’s Annual Electric Generator Data Form EIA-860 found that North Carolina surpassed California for the top spot in PURPA-qualified solar facilities. The report showed that 92 percent of the state’s solar utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) capacity is PURPA-qualified – the highest figure among of all other U.S. states in both absolute and percentage terms.
PURPA was passed in 1978 as a way to promote renewable energy resources, diversify the nation’s energy portfolio and enhance energy efficiency. PURPA requires utilities to purchase power generated at qualifying facilities at the rate of the utility’s avoided cost, or the cost of producing the energy itself and/or contracting with a non-qualifying facility.
The EIA report found North Carolina’s high solar production could be the result of support of the legislation, the renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy tax credit. The state produces 1,271 megawatts of utility-scale PV. Approximately 1,173 megawatts of total utility-scale PV capacity in the state is PURPA-qualifying.
