MORE POWER TO YOU
Robert Flynn
“Move over” for utility trucks Gov. Bev Perdue in July signed into law a bill that requires motorists to switch lanes or slow down when passing a utility service vehicle parked on the side of the road. The “move over” requirement was extended from an earlier law pertaining to law enforcement and emergency response vehicles. The provision exempts situations where moving into another travel lane is not safe.
Rally in Raleigh Tri-County EMC board members (from left) Bill Farmer, Janice Smith and Richard Grady discuss with freshman state Sen. David Rouzer (second from left), Republican from Johnston County, issues important to electric cooperatives during June’s Rally in Raleigh. More than 150 cooperative board members and employees walked the halls of the state legislative building discussing with members of the state General Assembly issues including renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change policy, the “smart grid,” economic development and community outreach.
Co-ops investing in solar electric facilities Hot enough? If your cooling bills have been higher in recent months, consider this: • The earth’s combined land and ocean surface temperature in June made it the warmest June on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The previous record was set in June 2005. • June was the 304th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average, NOAA reported. The months of March, April and May 2010 each recorded the warmest global surface temperatures ever for those months as well. In fact, the January–June period of 2010 set the world landand-sea surface temperature record as the warmest on record for the January–June period. • The last month with below-average temperature on the earth was February 1985, NOAA said. 8 SEPTEMBER 2010 Carolina Country
GreenCo Solutions, a services company owned by the majority of the state’s electric cooperatives, recently became involved in two new solar photovoltaic (PV) projects at small businesses located in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. GreenCo’s participation in the projects was coordinated by Strata Solar, who designed and installed both projects. Solar electric array at Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute Chapel Hill Tire Co. Car in Chapel Hill. Care Center’s 16.4-kilowatt PV array went live in April. The PV system is now producing electricity from solar panels on the roof of its Carrboro location. Duke Energy will purchase the energy. A 100.8-kilowatt PV array began producing electricity in June at Pickards Mountain Eco-Institute in Chapel Hill. The Piedmont EMC cooperative will purchase the energy. “North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are developing a diverse portfolio of solar resources to meet the renewable energy goals of our electric cooperative members,” said Tim Bennett, vice president of business operations for GreenCo Solutions.