Raleigh officials said today the city has begun construction on what will be the biggest urban solar energy plant in downtown Raleigh.

The 500-kilowatt system planned for the rooftop of the Raleigh Convention Center is expected to start generating electricity in April.

The system is financed in an unusual arrangement. Two alternative energy companies, FLS Energy and PowerWorks, will build, own and operate the solar panels. Progress Energy will buy the electricity.

The city is leasing space on the Convention Center roof to house the solar array. It is Raleigh's 10th solar energy plant with a total output capacity of 2.15 megawatts.

However, 500 kilowatts (1/2 megawatt) is not the largest system in the state. Several systems in development are about 5 megawatts and one, in Davidson County, is 15.5 megawatts.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The Durham County commissioners voted to replace the longtime management company of the Durham Convention Center, citing under performance and its competition’s successful track record of managing similar public facilities.
 
The unanimous vote authorized County Manager Mike Ruffin to negotiate a management agreement with Global Spectrum that outline terms before and after a scheduled $6.1 million upgrade to the convention center. The Durham City Council, which owns the facility jointly with the county, would also have to approve Global’s proposal before the board could approve the final contract.
 
“This is not a final step, it is just a first step,” said Commissioner Ellen Reckhow.
 
City and county officials put the management contract out to bid last year after expressing concern about Shaner Hotel Group’s management and marketing of the center, which has experienced an average operating loss of $1.1 million over the past five years.

July is scheduled to be a busy month for downtown Raleigh's Convention Center. Here's the list of events, from the city's website:

July 8 through July 11 – The National Agents Alliance will hold its summer conference at the Convention Center. The event is expected to draw approximately 3,000 people downtown.

July 16 through July 18 – The Raleigh Antiques Extravaganza will be held downtown. The antique expo is expected to draw more than 5,000 people.

July 16 through July 21 – The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church will hold its Christian Education Division Quadrennial at the Raleigh Convention Center. The event is expected to draw more than 3,500 people.

July 22 through July 29 – The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will meet at the Convention Center. The event is expected to draw more than 2,000 people.

July 31 – Raleigh Wide Open 5 will be held downtown along the City Plaza, the Raleigh Convention Plaza, Fayetteville Street and the new Raleigh Amphitheater. The event is expected to draw more than 70,000 people and will start with a parade and conclude with Circus Maximus and a fireworks display.

The two-day party known as Raleigh Wide Open 3 has begun, so we figured now is a perfect time to share a few of the taglines we wish the city had used in marketing the event. Feel free to submit your own.

Raleigh Wide Open 3: This Time It's Personal

Raleigh Wide Open 3: Our Convention Center Goes to Eleven

Raleigh Wide Open 3: This September the Meeting Begins

Raleigh Wide Open 3: They say convention centers never strike twice ... They were wrong.

Raleigh Wide Open 3: Not Quite Heaven. Not Quite Hell.

As some of you may have noticed, the Shimmer Wall in downtown Raleigh now appears fully functional. The N&O is working on a story about the wall for later this week so feel free to post your opinions of it here. ("Neat" and "cool" appear to be the most common opinions of the wall.)

Given that Raleigh's relationship with public art has not always been good, the Shimmer Wall is shaping up to be a major success. Yes, the wall was built with private money, but it will likely be viewed as public art given its placement on the McDowell Street side of the Convention Center. The wall includes an image of an oak tree, which several residents have said is perfect.

Are there any other images that would have been equally perfect symbols of Raleigh? Sir Walter? A garbage disposal? An acorn?

[UPDATE: The Council did not take up an agreement between the city and Simpson on Tuesday, as City Manager Russell Allen said a deal still hasn't been reached.]

Good question. The city has been in negotiations for months with the Simpson Organization, which owns the Bank of America Plaza building and the parking deck under Fayetteville Street where the proposed City Plaza would be located. The city needs an easement from Simpson before it can move forward with its grand plans to create a high-tech gathering place that can be closed to cars and reconfigured to accommodate parades, markets or concerts.

On today's City Council agenda is the outlines of an agreement between the city and Simpson. In exchange for the easement, Simpson would get an easement to construct and operate four retail pavilions on the plaza. Simpson would also get easments for outdoor seating areas.

The agreement does not appear to be finalized, though that may have changed over the last several days. The delays have aready guaranteed that the plaza won't be finished by the time the new convention center opens this fall. The cost of building the plaza is estimated at $21 million, and City Manager Russell has estimated it will take six to nine months to build the plaza. Raleigh plans to run power lines, phone lines and water pipes under the plaza floor so merchants can set up shop temporarily.

Allen and representatives of Simpson have both said negotiating the deal is complex. Neither side has explained what the particular hang ups are, though the delays seem strange given the city's desire to get the project moving forward.