Eighteen innovative North Carolina projects, 17 using solar technology and one using landfill gas, will receive a total of about $2.3 million in federal Recovery Act funds to implement energy conservation projects that invest in energy technology, Gov. Perdue announced this week. 

“These projects help build our state’s green energy economy, create jobs and demonstrate how public and private partnerships can work to help our communities,” said Perdue.

The 18 projects represent $26.3 million in total costs and will generate 31.8 million kWh of electricity annually (enough for 2,610 average homes for a year) or 2.6 billion BTUs (enough to provide hot water to 287 average homes for a year), depending on the specific project.  Funding for additional projects is still under review and will be announced later.

Money for the grants is distributed by the North Carolina Energy Office, part of the state’s Department of Commerce, through the State Energy Program fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Click here for more information on the projects.