CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — A local power company is trying to lower its carbon footprint. Blue Ridge Energy announced plans this week to build a huge solar project that will power more than 1,500 homes.
Channel 9 has learned that the project will be built on about 55 acres in the southern part of Caldwell County.
Blue Ridge Energy told reporter Dave Faherty that there will be 14,000 solar panels on the property, which is currently just farmland. But in just two weeks, construction will begin on the Brighter Future Solar Project.
The project will provide additional carbon-free electricity to Blue Ridge Energy -- as much as 11 megawatts of power, which is enough to power 1,600 homes.
Blue Ridge Energy said it has two carbon reduction targets: To achieve 50% reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The company told Channel 9 a developer is overseeing the project and they are buying the energy from that developer.
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