Morrisville Goes Solar!

The Town has begun adding solar energy to its facilities, and there are plans to add more over time. The first solar panel arrays were added to Fire Station No. 1 in 2021, providing up to 40 percent of the station's energy needs. The 30kW solar photovoltaic array is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 22 metric tons each year and to save the Town approximately $300,000 in energy costs over 30 years.

In January of 2023, the Town added 75kW of solar to the  public services building at 260 Town Hall Drive that houses the Police, Engineering, and Inspection departments. And later in August of 2023, the Town included an 81 kW solar array as part of the construction of Fire Station #3 at Harris Mill Road.  That brings the total to 186kW for Town-owned solar generation, which is more than 130 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions which are avoided as a result! In fiscal year 2025, the Town expects to add another 120kW of rooftop solar on the Town Hall and the Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center!

Residential Solar  

Residents are encouraged to read the Residential Consumer Guide to Solar Power and visit the Department of Energy’s Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar for information about the basics of solar energy, your solar options, and questions to ask solar professionals.

If you are ready to apply for permits to add solar to your home, please review Morrisville's Solar Permit Checklist for Residential Photovoltaic Systems. Additionally, you may reference the Statewide Uniform Requirement of Inspection Procedures from the N.C. Department of Insurance.

Solar Maps

Investigate your property’s solar potential by clicking here. You can also estimate the performance of potential PV projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

Finding a Contractor

Start your search with NABCEP to find certified solar contractors, and arrange to meet with a few to assess your home for solar energy and provide a quote. You may also want to visit EnergySage to learn about solar energy and submit a request for solar quotes from a network of pre-screened, local solar installers.

Financing, Incentives, and Tax Exemptions

Typically, solar installations are paid for through loans or cash, and some Federal and State incentives are available. The following are some helpful resources with information about financing and incentives for solar energy:

• Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics. Learn about the federal tax credit, eligibility, and other common questions from the U.S. Department of Energy.
• A Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing. Learn about different financing options from the Clean Energy States Alliance.

Solar Resources

The following resources provide helpful information about solar energy and how to navigate the process:

• Consumer Solar Checklist . Review this checklist for residential consumers considering solar energy from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

• Clean Energy Consumer Bill of Rights. Ensure a positive consumer experience by addressing important issues from IREC.

• Solar Customer Resource Portal. Find various resources from the Solar Energy Industries Association.

• Solar Owner’s Manual. The manual provides information for current solar homeowners to ensure that they are getting the most out of their system from Solar United Neighbors.

SolSmart

The Town of Morrisville has been identified as a SolSmart  GOLD designee through the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. SolSmart, which is a national program led by the International City/County Management Association and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) helps local governments and regional organizations bring new business to their community, promote economic growth, and foster the creation of new jobs by making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar.

SolSmart uses objective criteria to designate communities that have successfully met these  goals. Communities receive designations of SolSmart Gold, Silver and Bronze. Since the program launched in 2016, more than 400 cities, counties and regional organizations have achieved designation. Only nine North Carolina municipalities have achieved designation to date.

For information on the program, tune into this video.