Solar energy is growing in NC but still occupies less farmland than you might think
Published July 5, 2022 ; By Adam Wagner
This article reports on North Carolina’s efforts to expand solar energy access to low-income and rural communities, focusing on innovative partnerships and policy shifts that promote energy equity.
The News & Observer piece highlights how organizations like Roanoke Electric Cooperative and EnerWealth Solutions are helping Black farmers and rural landowners benefit from the clean energy transition. Through micro solar leases and agrivoltaics, these initiatives allow landowners to host small-scale solar installations while continuing agricultural production. The article also discusses broader state-level efforts to make solar more inclusive, including support from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice. These programs aim to reduce energy burdens, preserve generational land, and ensure that historically marginalized communities are not left behind in the shift to renewable energy.
