RALEIGH, N.C. – There are 257 million square feet of available real estate in North Carolina – most of which would be an ideal host for solar panels, according to a report released this week by Environment North Carolina.

Data included suggests the flat, often unshaded, roofs of big box stores make the perfect location.

David Rogers, the organization’s director, says much of that resource is going unused, largely because of a lack of state policies that would encourage the installation of solar. He says it would impact the state's sole power provider.

"It takes the production power out of Duke's hands and the way Duke's business model is, they make most of their money by building new power plants and allowing these companies to produce their own power hurts Duke's bottom line," he explains.

Specifically, Rogers says the state should allow for third party financing of installations, reduce fees for large-generation installations and change metering policies to better support large installations.

Currently, Duke is investing $500 million to expand solar energy in the state, but only in Duke-owned facilities.

Rogers says in addition to benefiting the environment, the cost-savings generated by retailers saving on energy could ultimately impact what you pay at the checkout.

"Anybody who has walked into a Lowe's, or has walked through the refrigeration aisle of a grocery store, notices how much money is spent on heating, cooling and lighting these giant stores,” he points out. “So being able to save what will translate to tens of thousands of dollars for any one of these stores means that some of those cost savings can be passed on to consumers."

If fully utilized, the roofs of the mega-retailers would generate more than 2,000 megawatts of power, which is equal to the amount of power consumed by more than 258,000 homes.

It would offset the amount of electricity the stores use by 42 percent, according to the report.

Ikea in Charlotte has already installed solar panels, and the Target and Aldi chains have plans to do the same.




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Minnesota is part of a patchwork of states trying to reimagine storm preparedness, by making roofs on homes stronger - before winds and hail fueled by climate change can wreak havoc.

The nonprofit news organization Stateline reports that Alabama has pioneered an approach that provides financial assistance to homeowners in need of an updated roof.

Officials say if more people take advantage, pressure will be taken off of insurance companies dealing with an onslaught of claims after a natural disaster.

Minnesota is designing a similar program, and the state Commerce Department's Energy Affordability Office Director Tracy Smetana said future grants could help eligible homeowners avoid a costly fix, and stabilize the insurance market.

"The insurance companies are required to offer a premium discount for upgraded or new roofs built to that fortified standard," said Smetana. "So that's a benefit again to individual homeowners, but of course, insurance rates across the state and insurance availability."

The fortified standard she mentioned is one gaining more traction in making buildings more climate resilient.

Meanwhile, policy observers say the market stability can help prevent major insurance carriers from pulling out of certain regions because of risk factors.

While the Minnesota Legislature approved planning funds, more money will need to be secured next session for the actual grants.

Looking past the broader financial benefits, Smetana said preventing more roofs from blowing off might mean not as many people will be displaced after a severe storm.

"Currently, when your home is damaged by wind and hail," said Smetana, "quite often it involves water in your home and makes it unlivable for a period of time."

If state lawmakers approve grant funds next year, Smetana said they could become available in late 2025.

While the program is still coming together, applicants would need to be insured and their home would have to be in relatively good shape outside of the roof upgrade needs.

This comes as many property owners in Minnesota recover from flood damage over the past couple of weeks.




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A decision from the U.S. Supreme Court protects Idaho rivers from what conservation groups say are harmful mining practices. The justices rejected a petition to review a case in which a California suction dredge miner conducted his operations without a Clean Water Act permit in Idaho.

The miner, Shannon Poe, was fined $150,000 in 2021 by a district court for polluting the South Fork of the Clearwater River. The Idaho Conservation League filed suit against Poe for failing to get a permit back in 2018.

Jonathan Oppenheimer, governmental relations director for the Idaho Conservation League, said the Supreme Court's decision is a victory for Idaho's rivers.

"We were concerned that it could go the other way and are pleased to see the outcome that really upholds what we see as the rule of law - that if you're going to discharge pollutants into waters of the United States, that you need to have appropriate permits and take actions to protect those waters for all Americans," he said.

Suction dredge mining uses an underwater hose to excavate gold from riverbeds. It can release dangerous metals like arsenic and mercury. Poe refused to get a permit for the mining. 21 states, including Idaho, signed on to a 'Friend of the Court' brief in support of Poe.

Dredge miners in Idaho must obtain a pollution discharge permit from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to comply with the Clean Water Act. Oppenheimer said this type of dredging is a highly disruptive practice that kicks up sediment and can harm endangered and protected species in the river, such as salmon and steelhead.

"It can impact fisheries habitat as well as the insects that grow and develop in the water and on the rocks that they are disturbing that then feed the fish and other aquatic species," he added.

Oppenheimer noted the justices' rejecting a review of this case means the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision requiring permits for suction dredge mining goes back into place, protecting waterways in the West.

Local fire crews across Oregon will be working to limit the number of manmade fires in the state on what looks to be the hottest weekend of the year so far.

Temperatures for the July 4th holiday are expected to be in the 90s across the state, and over 100 by the weekend. In a recent wildfire briefing, the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said its immediate focus is the July Fourth holiday.

Carol Connolly, public information specialist with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, said they can't prevent naturally occurring wildfires, but that isn't always their biggest concern.

"Most of our fires in 2024 are human-caused. So, that's why we're really doing a big push to reduce the risk of starting those large, catastrophic fires that are preventable," she said.

People are being asked to check with their local communities for the most up-to-date information on fireworks regulations and limits, and also to take fire safety precautions when camping, off-roading and cooking outdoors.

Fireworks are illegal on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Connolly says southeastern Oregon is at a high forest-fire risk this season. The recent lightning storms and increased foliage growth are a potentially deadly combination. She says if the public will help by limiting manmade fires, every resource will be available when a natural fire occurs.

"We're just starting to see some of that lightning on the landscape. We need our firefighters ready and poised for those fires we can't prevent," Connolly continued.

The National Weather Service says Northwest and West Central Oregon, including the Portland metro area, are under an Excessive Heat Watch from July 4th through 7th.


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