A new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts says North Carolina “has emerged as a clean energy leader” in the southeast.

The state ranks third in new renewable energy capacity, third in private investments and eighth in energy- and environment-related jobs, according to Pew, which is issuing the report Thursday at N.C. State.

Driving the growth is the solar industry, the report notes.

It describes solar as “The new cash crop.”

In 2013, North Carolina ranked:

  • Third in new capacity at 335 megawatts
  • Third in private investment at $1.2 billion
  • Fourth in total capacity at 557 megawatts
  • Fifth in homes powered by solar
  • 10th in jobs at 3,100

Duke Energy is a major driver in North Carolina’s solar growth. The utility, for example, recently announced a new $500 million program to drive more solar farm sites and energy development.

Just last month, the federal government also chipped in, committing $55 million to 39 solar and renewable energy projects across the state.

The Pew report, which includes data from Navigant Research and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as other sources, cites several reasons for North Carolina’s clean energy growth.

“North Carolina has emerged as a clean energy leader in the Southeast because of its high-caliber academic institutions, robust public and private investments, and policies such as the renewable energy and energy efficiency portfolio standard,” the report says/.

“The state has climbed nationwide rankings in the solar industry and attracted companies working in smart grid technologies, which use digital communications to allow electricity providers
to detect and react to changes in usage.”

In 2013 alone, North Carolina accounted for 342 new projects linked to clean energy. The vast majority of those were solar – some 98 percent.

Those included:

  • Solar, 335
  • Hydro, 4.4
  • Biomass, 1.6
  • Combined heat and power, 1.4

Citing the clean tech sector’s growth in smart grid and other technologies, the report says North Carolina is “well situated” to further expand its “clean economy.”

“Given North Carolina’s ample renewable resources and skilled technical workers, the state is well-situated to continue growing its clean energy economy,” the report concludes. “The state will be able to capitalize fully on these assets by preserving and strengthening state policies, such as the renewable portfolio standard; leveraging federal policies such as tax
incentives; and continuing strong public and private investments in research and development.”