Solarize the Triangle '23

Learn more about Solarize the Triangle in the next section below

Results are in! Check out the many successes Durham County accomplished through Solarize the Triangle '23: 

Durham County Campaign Milestones 2022-2023

Full Solarize Campaign Milestones 2022-2023

Solarize the Triangle Program 

Solarize the Triangle is a community-based group-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies.

The Solarize campaign helps homeowners, businesses, and nonprofits become more resilient, reduce energy expenses, and save on the cost of renewable energy systems by obtaining volume discounts on materials and installation services—the more that participate, the greater the savings!

Solarize The Triangle is part of the Triangle Sustainability Partnership, a newly formed local government partnership of 12 communities including Durham County, in addition to Central Pines Regional Council and Solar Crowdsource.

Going Solar

Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun – and provides many benefits for individuals and the community. It improves environmental quality by reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, supports local solar companies in North Carolina, saves money on energy costs, and improves electric grid resilience during peak demand and other stresses to the system.

As of August 2022, Durham had over 1,500 solar energy systems installed totaling almost 30 MW of generating capacity.  Of these, 96% are on residential properties.  

Investigate your property’s solar potential by clicking on this interactive map. You can also estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

Getting Started

For more information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals, read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar. 

Sign up for a free assessment through Solarize The Triangle.  Durham County has partnered with the City of Durham and 9 other Triangle local governments to bring down the price of solar and make the process easier.  To participate, you have to fill out the request for a free evaluation before December 31, 2022.

• Choosing a Solar Installer – an informative short video from the GW Solar Institute explaining the questions to ask and research to conduct prior to going solar.
• Consumer Solar Checklist - a checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights – ensuring a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Solar Customer Resource Portal

Permitting Process and Policies

Durham County is committed to streamlining the solar permitting and inspection process to make it as easy as possible for residents, businesses, non-profits, etc. to install solar.  For example, only two inspections are required for small rooftop solar. See the City-County Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Permitting Checklist and download the NC Department of Insurance’s Residential Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Inspection Procedure form (PDF) to learn more.

In 2007, North Carolina passed its first solar access law, NC Senate Bill 670, which protects residents’ rights to install solar by forbidding entities from prohibiting installation. A June 2022 NC Supreme Court ruling confirmed that Homeowners Associations may not prevent the installation of solar panels and cannot dictate where on a house the panels go if that effectively reduces the panels' productivity. You can learn more about state policies concerning HOAs' ability to regulate solar here. 

Financing and Incentives

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created a 30% tax credit for residential and commercial solar energy and battery storage systems installed on or after January 1, 2022.  Non-taxed entities such as nonprofit, religious, and government entities can get a direct payment for the value of the tax credit. Businesses have additional Federal incentives available. Please speak with a tax professional about this and other tax credits.

The state of North Carolina and various NC utilities have additional incentives.

Some additional resources on financing solar:

• A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing – learn about different financing options from CESA, the Clean Energy States Alliance.
• Rooftop Solar Financing 101 – an informative short video from the GW Solar Institute explaining different solar financing options.

Learn More

You can learn more about solar energy in North Carolina here.

Explore installed solar systems throughout Durham County using this interactive map. (Simply filter on Durham County in the top left corner.) 

Check out Durham County’s Renewable Energy Plan to learn how the County plans to achieve its goal to transition operations from fossil fuel-powered operations to 80% clean, renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050.