CARY, North Carolina -- Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S.
Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) met today with employees of Southern
Energy Management, a home-grown sustainable energy company, and
toured the firm's signature project -- one of the largest solar
array energy systems in the Southeast.
"The development of clean, renewable energy is crucial not only
for reducing our carbon footprint but for making the United States
a leader in the clean energy race," said Secretary Steven
Chu. "By moving to clean sources of energy, we can create
jobs and ensure America's competitiveness, while reducing our
dependence on foreign oil. Projects like the one we saw today
are vital for the future of both our country and our planet."
"This is a company whose mission is to reduce carbon
emissions that contribute to climate change and to build a
sustainable, triple-bottom-line that values people, the planet and
profit," Salazar said during his visit. "Its employees have
installed more than 11,000 solar panels, producing about 2.8
million kilowatt hours of clean energy.
Their work in 2008 offset more than 74 million pounds of carbon
dioxide, the equivalent of planting 5.7 million trees. These folks
believe they can help change the world for the better and we
couldn't agree more."
"Solar power produced by SAS here in Cary is a great example of
the emerging energy economy, and a model for forward-thinking
policies driving innovation in our state," Sen. Hagan said. "North
Carolina is well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities in
this new economy. I am committed to investing in sustainable,
American-made energy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil
and create new manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and throughout
the nation."
The project the group toured is at the SAS Headquarters in Cary,
North Carolina, where Southern Energy Management was the primary
contractor for SunPower on two 1-megawatt solar arrays. The project
includes a 24-collector solar water heating system and a 1-megawatt
photovoltaic (PV) system of 5,040 solar panels on five acres of
land.
The Department of Energy has made significant investments in
renewable energy with funding from the Recovery Act. Yesterday,
Secretary Chu announced up to $24 million in new investments in
cutting-edge wind energy research facilities. Additionally, DOE has
allocated nearly $600 million in loan guarantees supporting
renewable energy technology and creating American clean energy
jobs. Along with the Department of Treasury, DOE has also awarded
more than $1 billion in grants to companies committed to investing
in domestic renewable energy production.
SOURCE
