From the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association:
RALEIGH, N.C. — The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) presented North Carolina State Senator Tom Apodaca (R-Henderson) with a ‘Legislator of the Year’ award for the Senator’s strong defense of clean energy policies that have brought benefit to North Carolina’s businesses, citizens and economy. NCSEA presented the award at the Raleigh Convention Center during its annual Making Energy Work conference. Each year, NCSEA honors those who demonstrate outstanding innovation and leadership in growing North Carolina’s clean energy industries.
“Senator Apodaca played a critical leadership role within the General Assembly on behalf of the state’s entire clean energy community by helping to defend economically beneficial clean energy policies,” said NCSEA Executive Director Ivan Urlaub. “His stance in support of some of the state’s most effective clean energy policies like the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) not only demonstrated strategic vision, it safeguarded the jobs and investment dollars that clean energy is currently bringing to communities around the state.”
North Carolina is emerging as a leader in the nation in creating innovative programs and infrastructure to drive clean energy development. According to a recent study by RTI International and La Capra Associates, over the last six years the total economic benefit to North Carolina from clean energy project development is estimated to be $1.7 billion. In 2012 North Carolina ranked 5th in the U.S. for annual installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity compared to 8th in 2011. In addition, PV systems of 1 MW or greater experienced a dramatic growth in nameplate capacity of 849% from 2011-2012. The state’s clean energy policies, including those defended by Sen. Apodaca during the most recent legislative session, have played an important role in this development.
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