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Raleigh - North Carolina ranks 3rd in the nation for growth in solar power generation since 2011  and is tied in tenth position for growth in improvements in electricity efficiency since 2011, 根据一项 新报告 released today by Environment North Carolina Research & 政策中心. Renewables on the Rise 2021: The rapid growth of 可再生s, electric vehicles and other building blocks of a clean energy future documents the growth of six key clean energy technologies across the U.S. over the past decade: solar power, 风力发电, 电池存储, 能源效率, electric vehicles and heat pumps. North Carolina has seen a more than  265-fold increase in the amount of electricity it gets from the sun since 2011 and we've seen a notable increase in electricity savings from 能源效率 programs. Our report ranks North Carolina 10th in the nation in 能源效率 progress from 2011 to 2019.This analysis comes as North Carolina just passed a bipartisan energy bill that sets goals to reduce heat-trapping carbon pollution.

“It’s amazing the difference that a decade can make and how many people are choosing to embrace 可再生 energies like solar power,克里说:“早, Advocate with Environment North Carolina Research & 政策中心. “North Carolinians can look forward to a cleaner, 健康的未来, thanks to our state’s leadership in solar power and 能源效率.” 

“People of faith are recognizing that It is our moral imperative to move to a clean, 可再生, 高效的未来,苏珊娜·塔特尔说, Director of NC Interfaith Power and Light. “It’s 2021, we need to be harnessing the powers of the energies from the heavens above.”

Beyond top-ranking growth in solar energy, North Carolina has also seen an 546 GWh increase in 风力发电. Strong and supportive policies, combined with improving technologies and falling prices, have played a key role in driving adoption, 根据报告. 

“We cannot continue to bear the health and consumer costs of relying on fossil fuels. We have the technology and innovation we need to power a cleaner, 健康的未来 with 可再生 energy, like solar and 风力发电,凯特·克雷格说, Director of North Carolina PIRG. “By implementing common sense 可再生 energy solutions today, we can preserve a livable planet, clean air and clean water for generations to come.” 

In addition to highlighting states that have made the most progress in adopting 可再生 energy technologies, the research also details the rapid gains achieved nationally over the past decade. According to the report, America produced almost four times as much 可再生 electricity from the sun and the wind in 2020 as in 2011. 另外, 如果风, solar and geothermal generation continue growing at the same 15% annual rate, 可再生s could meet the nation’s electricity needs by 2035. 

“We all have a role to play, but you can’t get a global reduction in emissions if you don’t do that at the local level and at the state level,” said Senator Natalie Murdock. “I look forward to continue working with Governor Cooper over the next two years so that we can move forward to create a more robust and diverse energy portfolio 在这里 in North Carolina.”

“Millions of Americans and North Carolinians are already reaping the benefits of the dramatic clean energy progress we’ve made so far,“早说. “但, we’ll need to do even more in order to transform the vision of 100% clean and 可再生 energy for North Carolina into a reality.”

You can watch our webinar 在这里.