Duke Energy: 900 Workers In North Carolina During Peak Solar Construction This Summer

At least 900 workers are expected to be employed by Duke Energy via solar energy construction projects in North Carolina during peak construction this summer, according to recent reports.

These 900 workers will be split amongst the three solar projects that the utility giant is currently constructing in the coastal state — as part of the $500 million push towards utility-scale solar in the state that the company has committed to. The 3 projects were acquired from independent energy producers relatively recently.

Out of the 3 projects being developed, the largest is set to be the 65 megawatt (MW) Warsaw Solar Facility being constructed in Duplin County. Once completed, the 65 MW project will be the largest solar energy facility in the whole of the state — though there are larger projects currently in development.

The trio is rounded out by the 40 MW Elm City Solar Facility being built in Wilson County and the 23 MW Fayetteville Solar project being constructed in Bladen County.

“We are excited to partner with these communities to build and own facilities that offer customers additional options to use solar energy,” stated Rob Caldwell, the head of distributed energy resources for Duke Energy. “Renewable energy will continue to be a growing part of our generation mix in the Carolinas.”

Good news for the economy of North Carolina, and specifically for the counties involved in these 3 projects. Imagine how many jobs a full-scale New Deal type of buildout of solar energy in this company would make?

Image Credit: North Carolina flag via Shutterstock.