North Carolina

North Carolina State Solar Policy Resources

• DSIRE Incentives Database – North Carolina – Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in North Carolina and across the United States

• NC Sustainable Energy Association – Learn about ways you can advocate for clean energy in North Carolina

• North Carolina Energy Division – Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics

• North Carolina General Assembly – Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in North Carolina

• North Carolina Utilities Commission – Learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of North Carolina public utilities

• North Carolina Solar Panels Overview – Learn about the history of solar policy in North Carolina, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

• Solar Panel Cost in North Carolina – Learn about the history of solar policy in North Carolina, along with up-to-date pricing information on EnergySage

• Solar Rebates & Incentives in North Carolina – Check out EnergySage’s list of key solar incentives in North Carolina to see what programs you can benefit from

• U.S. Energy Information Administration – North Carolina State Profile – Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government

North Carolina Energy Storage Policy and Market Overview

North Carolina energy storage stakeholders are taking actions to promote an economically prosperous market. Regulatory and utility actions align favorably with supporting solar PV-plus-storage system deployment and a manufacturing economy.

North Carolina’s energy storage market is growing as manufacturing strongholds pop up, solidifying a secure supply chain for system deployment. A robust workforce is expecting to grow as grid-scale storage and manufacturing centers increase. As of 2020, the storage market supports 1,432 jobs. There are 181 Residential, two Commercial, and two utility-scale solar-plus-storage systems totaling 52 MW of capacity (2020). North Carolina’s largest electricity utility, Duke Energy, has prioritized large-scale deployment, but is broadening commitments by allocating resources that incentivize BTM systems. In 2024, the utility established reduced tariff rate structures for large C&I companies investing in storage, and a VPP battery program for homeowners.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission enforces market regulations concerning system interconnection. Existing guidance includes stakeholder engagement procedures, storage interconnection rules, and End-of-Life reuse, recycling, and disposal policies. Regulators additionally mandate regulatory transparency through ESS reporting in IRPs. The influx of battery giga factories, thorough energy storage interconnection procedures, and incentives are promoting statewide workforce development, grid resiliency, and equitable access to affordable energy.

North Carolina Energy Storage Policy Resources

• Duke Energy PowerPair –Duke Energy’s Solar + Battery home incentives. Calculate your potential incentive amount, and check out the PowerPair, and PowerPair + Power Manager Battery Control tiers.
• Accelerating Clean Energy (ACE) Tariffs –Duke Energy’s plan to enforce reduced tariff rate structures for large commercial and industrial customers to invest in long-duration storage.
• NC Sustainable Energy Association – SEIA’s state regional affiliate focusing on renewable energy and energy storage research and advocacy.
• North Carolina 2022 Carbon Plan – North Carolina Utilities Commission order to adopt utility carbon and future electricity planning.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Energy Storage Policy Database – Map of Procurement, Regulatory, Demonstration, Incentive, and Interconnection policies in North Carolina and across the United States.
• DSIRE North Carolina Energy Storage Policy Database – Clearinghouse for financial incentives, regulations, and rebates for energy storage and lithium-ion technologies in North Carolina and across the United States.
• Energy Storage Cost in North Carolina – Up-to-date storage and solar-plus-storage pricing and find installers in North Carolina on EnergySage.
• North Carolina General Assembly – Pending, passed, and historical legislation affecting energy storage and battery systems, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in North Carolina.
• North Carolina Utilities Commission – Governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of North Carolina public utilities, search for regulatory dockets, programs, and initiatives.