In light of Canadian Solar partnering with Strata Solar (one of Solar Power World’s Top 100 Contractors) to install 15 utility solar projects in North Carolina, Solar Power World asked Noah Eckert, director of commercial and utility-scale markets at Canadian Solar, why North Carolina is a good place for utility solar projects.
SPW: What makes North Carolina a good choice for utility solar projects?
NE: North Carolina has an intelligent and progressive farming community that sees the value of integrating traditional farming with solar farms. The utilities are smart and deeply skilled in all aspects of working with renewable energy. The state provides good incentives and works with developers to limit project impacts while creating jobs, revenue and clean electricity for its residents. Last but not least North Carolina has good solar insolation.
SPW: What makes a partnership with Strata Solar a good one?
NE: Strata is an integrated developer/EPC/IPP with a strong presence and commitment to the state of North Carolina and the southeast. What sets Strata apart is its ability to build and finance projects in an efficient manner. When we decide to pursue a project together we know it will get built on budget and on time.
SPW: 15 solar installations by the end of 2013 sounds ambitions. What’s the plan for getting these projects online in time?
NE: Strata finished 12 farms in 2012. This year Strata will be tripling their field staff, giving them excess capacity to build these projects and others. Canadian Solar easily has the capacity to supply the solar modules for these projects at competitive prices. Though 15 projects sounds ambitious it is a conservative number when you look at the capabilities of both Strata and Canadian Solar.
SPW: What are your thoughts on utility solar, compared with other sectors (commercial, residential) of the U.S. solar market?
NE: Utility solar has become the foundation of the PV industry. Its scale has helped drive pricing to levels that are close to grid parity in certain regions. In fact, we are seeing growing demand for residential and commercial applications. As mature financing products get standardized growth will accelerate in all regions.
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