| dc.description.abstract |
In 2007, North Carolina (NC) passed a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS),
the first in the Southeast. The REPS mandated that 12.5% of the state’s electricity
demand be met with renewable energy by 2021. 29 states, Washington D.C., and 3 territories
also have renewable portfolio standards, with varying goals. The NC REPS, combined
with the state’s interpretation of the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act
(PURPA), unleashed a torrent of activity in the state, making it second in the nation
(after California) for installed solar PV. Our project, using publicly available data
and a geographical information system (GIS), creates a screening tool to: (1) identify
potential sites for utility-scale solar in the State of North Carolina, given a set
of physical constraints; and (2) generate supply curves for those selected sites,
given a set of economic constraints. This tool can be used by local zoning boards
or commissions, or other interested parties, to gain a better understanding of utility-scale
solar projects and make project development processes smoother, facilitating better
environmental outcomes, and supporting sustainable economic growth in North Carolina
and the U.S.
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