Opening NC solar power market requires a balanced plan

What’s next? Republicans in North Carolina’s General Assembly gathered outside their Jones Street headquarters looking for some trees to hug?

Four GOP House members are sponsoring a bill that would allow independent companies to compete for utility customers with the bigs, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. Solar energy, a rapidly developing industry, is helping to generate such a conversation.

The bill would allow financing of such energy sales through third-party leasing, wherein an independent energy developer leases a private rooftop, installs solar panels and then sells the power produced directly to the customer. House members have been getting a push from big corporations such as Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, Target and Macy’s to allow it.

One sponsor, GOP Rep. John Szoka of Fayetteville, puts a free-market spin on the idea, given that Republicans generally shy away from anything having to do with renewable energy.

“I believe in free markets,” Szoka says, “and I believe in property rights. This allows property owners to use their property as they see fit.”
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