rooftop solar

The Catawba Riverkeeper organization is one of the 10 largest of its kind in the country, but the person responsible for that growth — Executive Director John Searby — is stepping down. As he prepares to leave, we look at his contributions to the organization, its work in keeping the Catawba healthy, and the future challenges to that health. Also, as solar tax credits near expiration, what can you do before time runs out?

Environmental groups are asking the North Carolina Court of Appeals to overturn Duke Energy's new rates and rules for residential rooftop solar panels that took effect Oct. 1.

Duke Energy has reached a deal to sell its unregulated commercial wind and solar business for $2.8 billion. And it says it's making progress on the sale of another division that provides rooftop solar to businesses.

North Carolina is getting ready to overhaul how owners of residential rooftop solar panels get paid, including reducing what Duke Energy pays for excess electricity sent to the grid. But it won't happen as soon as expected.

California utility regulators last week adopted new rules sought by utility companies that reduce what rooftop solar owners get paid for electricity they send back to the grid. Will North Carolina be next?

The U.S. power system is centralized. We rely on large, mostly fossil-fuel-burning plants to generate electricity. It's sent out on high-voltage wires over long distances (the grid). Substations step it down to lower voltages to power your home or business. An attack, a storm or other disruption can affect the wider network. But what if there was another way — a more decentralized solution?

Duke Energy's five-year rooftop solar rebate program in North Carolina was supposed to end in July. But the utility says it will add one final application period in January.

A North Carolina Supreme Court ruling last week makes it easier for property owners who belong to homeowners associations to install rooftop solar panels.

Duke Energy has reached an agreement with several North Carolina solar installers who objected to the company's proposed changes in rooftop solar rules and incentives.

Duke Energy will offer another round of rebates for home solar installations in January. If the past two years are any indication, they'll be snapped up…