RALEIGH, N.C. (November 21, 2023) – The winners of the 2023 Cleantech Innovation Awards, including outstanding cleantech projects, innovations, organizations, and individuals, were recognized at an awards ceremony held on November 16th at the SAS Institute in Cary. Winners were honored by the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC), an initiative of business, government, academic and nonprofit leaders focused on accelerating the growth of the statewide and regional cleantech economy.
Cleantech Impact: Local Government – Recognizes a local government or governments that have effectively leveraged resources and partnerships to complete an innovative project or initiative deploying cleantech solutions to create positive impacts for the environment, economy, and residents.
Solarize the Triangle – Central Pines Regional Council
Solarize the Triangle is a regional, community-based group-purchasing program for solar energy, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies that 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. This project is a partnership among a group of 12 local governments including the City of Raleigh, the Town of Morrisville, Durham County, the Town of Hillsborough, the Town of Apex, the City of Durham, Orange County, the Town of Cary, Chatham County, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, and the Town of Holly Springs, a regional government, Central Pines Regional Council; and two private sector partners, Solar Crowdsource and Yes Solar Solutions. This partnership gives customers the assurance of local government and private sector know-how, group pricing, and clean energy education and outreach events to increase participation through a better understanding of rooftop solar components, suitability assessment considerations, and contract provisions. Over the course of two campaigns, Solarize the Triangle has signed 291 contracts for solar installation, which represents almost $488,000 in yearly avoided energy costs, $9.75M in new clean energy development, and more than five million pounds of carbon dioxide avoided annually, while kick-starting a grant program to put solar PV systems on the roofs of low- to moderate-income homeowners.