North Carolina’s solar power output grew 36% last year

Annual solar energy production in North Carolina jumped 36% in 2018, according to the latest government data – firmly placing North Carolina as the No. 2 solar-producing state in the nation. Data (page 54) from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirmed North Carolina’s 36 percent growth, which significantly outpaced other leading solar states. By comparison, California’s annual solar production rose 15 percent; Arizona’s and Nevada’s outputs each grew 10 percent in 2018. Duke Energy’s 35 solar facilities in North Carolina are helping the state keep a firm hold as the nation’s No. 2 solar state. North Carolina’s annual solar energy production rose 36 percent in 2018, according to federal government data.