The University’s Solar Center is preparing for expanded funding of programs that it is involved with through the federal stimulus package, according to executive director Steve Kalland.

“In the stimulus package as a whole there’s lots and lots of opportunities for clean technology and our phones are ringing off the hook here,” he said. “It’s all exciting right now.”

The Solar Center is a “full service sustainable energy shop,” Kalland said, which deals with technology, policy and education for clean transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean building technologies. 

Kalland said local governments in North Carolina will need assistance in determining how to best utilize funds that will be available for sustainable energy and energy efficiency programs through the stimulus package.

“There are a lot of people that are going to need help and the Solar Center can provide that help,” he said. “With a staff of roughly 35 folks we cover a lot of ground, but we try to be a portal where if you need help we’ll provide it and if we can’t provide it we tend to know where else to go in the University and the University system, and even the Community College system and other resources throughout the state.”

The Solar Center will also assist North Carolina in maximizing its share of federal grant money available through the stimulus bill, Kalland said.

Changes to the federal tax code regarding sustainable energy and energy efficiency already took place when the stimulus package was approved, according to Brian Lips, a policy analyst at the Solar Center. Tax credits for both individuals and companies which implement energy efficient building improvements or alternative energies were increased, and a new tax credit for manufacturers of renewable energy systems was added, he said.

“Maybe a company that’s looking to put a new plant in China because the labor is cheaper may be swayed to put it here in America because we have this tax credit,” Lips said.

Both Lips and Kalland said further regulation and funding related to energy efficiency and sustainable energy is likely.

“This administration has really taken a very serious approach to turning a corner on how we do energy,” Kalland said. “A lot of things have been laid in place so that as the economy recovers we’ll see more and more interest in this stuff.”

Demand for classes the Center offers to public has increased dramatically over the past year, according to Kalland.

“Our solar electric class used to be twice a year, last year we offered it four times, and this year we’ll have had four by April,” he said.

Some students feel the progession of the Solar Center is a great step towards progress in energy.

“It’s just really cool,” Joshua Peavey, a junior in environmental technology, said. “It’s taken a long time for Americans in general to realize that we need to change our ways with energy consumption and its really great being a N.C. State student and knowing that our college is doing so much to further that.”