North Carolina
NC Senate passes CPACE funding program to make clean energy upgrades more accessible
The legislature advanced a new financing program Thursday that aims to make clean energy upgrades more accessible, including rooftop solar, energy efficient HVAC systems, and LED lighting.
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) financing allows businesses to borrow money for upgrades and pay it back over time through a small increase in property taxes.
Clean energy advocates, including Matt Abele with the North Carolina Clean Energy Association, applaud the move.
“It’s a monumental step in clean energy here in North Carolina,” Abele said.
More than 38 states have already passed legislation for CPACE programs and more than $2 billion in projects have been financed nationwide, according to the Department of Energy.
“This is going to help those businesses put more money back into their pocket, be able to pay their employees more money, and continue to reinvest in the communities that they are already invested in,” Abele said.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell has strongly opposed efforts to introduce a state C-PACE program in recent years.
“CPACE is a form of predatory lending,” Folwell said. “It manipulates the free market to incentivize small businesses to be offered loans that will have higher interest rates and a higher rate of default. It’s also particularly concerning that when used for so-called green energy projects, that by the time the borrower has a problem, the lender is far removed from the transaction and has no liability if the project never meets its cost savings targets, leaving small business owners holding the bag to keep paying for something that isn’t working.”
Supporters say the treasurer’s concerns apply more to PACE lenders in the residential sector.
“It’s a voluntary option for commercial entities who are looking for an additional opportunity to finance the system,” Abele said. He also noted that clean energy upgrades could help businesses be more resilient in the face of climate change.
“It’s not only a clean energy and sustainability tool, it’s also a resiliency and a bottom line tool for businesses to decrease their utility bills and keep their doors open in the face of increasingly severe storms coming through the region,” Abele said.
Firefighters with the Vanceboro Fire Department along with the NC Forest Service responded to a woods fire near the end of Brown Farm Road on Friday evening.
The fire was reported around 5:00 p.m. and crews were able to establish containment lines and stop its spread.
Fire officials said they received assistance from air support that conducted water drops on the fire. Fire crews are out in the woods conducting measurements.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Shavezz Dixon knew what he was looking for the second time around. The former Ole Miss offensive line commit out of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County reopened his recruitment earlier in the process, determined to find the right fit before making another college decision. After a strong push from North Carolina that began earlier this year, the three-star offensive lineman found exactly what he was looking for.
Now Dixon is headed to Chapel Hill.
“Development, the history behind Coach Belichick and just the atmosphere and campus environment,” Dixon said when asked about the biggest reasons behind his decision.
North Carolina offered Dixon in January after Bill Belichick, Michael Lombardi and Will Friend visited his school. They extended the offer, and from that point forward, the recruitment took off.
“It just skyrocketed from there with North Carolina. They were on me hard, and so consistent. Coach Lombardi and Coach Friend were great. “They were very straightforward with me and honest, so that put them high on my list.
“Out of all the colleges I’ve been to and talked to, they had the best plan for me to develop as a player.”
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The Tar Heels quickly separated themselves from the pack.
Florida State, Georgia Tech and Florida State all remained heavily involved, but a trip to Chapel Hill helped the Tar Heels win out.
“That visit in March changed everything. I talked to Coach Belichick a lot and Coach Friend, and it just felt right. Our relationships grew, the campus was awesome and I just liked the opportunity I saw there.”
Dixon excited about the staff he will play for in Chapel Hill
Development sat at the top of Dixon’s list.
So did the opportunity to play for one of the most accomplished coaches in football history.
Friend also played a major role.
“Coach Friend is a great coach,” Dixon said. “He’s very hands-on. He’s going to teach you. That’s why I feel like I can get developed by him. Some coaches want to yell and scream, but Coach Friend is about teaching his players. He has had success at different places and he is a great coach to learn from.”
The chance to play for Belichick added another layer to the decision.
“I know that the opportunities are there. I just have to go prove myself. He is a winner. Coach Belichick is one of the best.
“I feel like this year will definitely be a year they take it over the top and exceed expectations. There is no doubt that he will win at North Carolina.”
Dixon will be back in Chapel Hill June 12 for his official visit, and that will be the only one he takes.
“I have shut it all down,” Dixon said. “I know this is home. This is the place for me.”
GREENVILLE, N.C. — A Greenville man is being held without bond after authorities say he failed to report a change of address as required under North Carolina’s sex offender registry laws.
According to Pitt County court records, 66-year-old Charles Eugene Gardner was arrested June 4 and charged with felony failure to register as a sex offender.
Arrest warrants allege Gardner did not notify the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office within the required three business days after leaving his registered address on Ford Street in Greenville.
The charge stems from an alleged violation on May 26 and was filed June 2 following an investigation by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.
Gardner remains in the Pitt County Detention Center without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 5.
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