The Raleigh City Council has unanimously signed off on the city's plan to install two solar photovoltaic array systems at the new Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Operations Center.

Renewable sources such as solar and wind could supply up to 80 percent of the world's energy needs by 2050 and play a significant role in fighting global warming, a top climate panel concluded Monday. Read more about it here.

If North Carolina recruiters, economic developers and lawmakers weren't actively courting GE, last week's announcement should have energized them.

In the next three months or so, the energy division of General Electric plans to select a spot somewhere in the United States for a new, $600 million solar-panel factory that's expected to employ about 400 people.

While no one will confirm North Carolina's interest, it's hard to imagine that this state won't mount some attack to attract the plum project. That effort will almost certainly include state and local incentives tied to job creation targets, and face stiff competition from other states.

For starters, it's green energy, a no-brainer for politicians eager to lure environmentally friendly jobs. It's a lot of jobs. And it's GE, not some risky solar startup.

Federal energy officials awarded a $5.15 million, three-year grant to a group led by Durham-based Cree that's working on new "smart grid" technology.

Cree's partners include researchers at N.C. State, ABB and Powerex. Most of the money will go to Cree, which is developing a new semiconductor device. N.C. State announced it will receive about $750,000 of the grant.

The grant is the latest from the U.S. Department of Energy to reach the Triangle. N.C. State has gotten money from previous grants related to electricity grids and renewable energy.

The term "smart grid" refers to a digital system that's expected to improve how electricity is delivered, and allow utilities to store power from renewable resources such as solar and wind.

The Charlotte City Council has approved a plan to divert garbage from landfills to a renewable energy project that will provide fuel for electricity power plants. Read more about it here.

North Carolina could have the most viable offshore wind power on the East Coast, with the ability to bring power to hundreds of thousands of homes and generate up to 20,000 new manufacturing jobs, according to a new study by the National Wildlife Foundation.

The state has “great potential” for offshore wind power, thanks to its shallow waters, lengthy coastline and excellent wind speeds, according to a report released this morning by the National Wildlife Foundation.

That’s based on studies from the Department of Energy and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The Department of Energy’s “20 percent by 2030” report predicts that five to 10 gigawatts of energy could come from the Tar Heel coastline. The state could gain 10,000 to 20,000 manufacturing jobs, according to the report, “Offshore Winds in the Atlantic."

GlaxoSmithKline is preparing to install more solar panels on a roof at its massive Research Triangle Park campus.

The British drug maker first installed panels on its headquarters building in 2008, a 75-kilowatt system. It added a smaller set on another building last year.

Officials expect to have the largest yet, a 220-kilowatt solar system atop the Bide Building, ready next month.

GSK is just one of a rapidly increasing list of Triangle companies harnessing the sun to power local operations, offset utility costs and project a green image. Declining costs and improving technology are helping fuel the trend.

Siemens Energy plans to expand its Wendell operations and add 139 high-paying jobs over the next four years.

State officials today approved a grant and tax credits worth as much as $2.9 million, which Siemens will receive if it meets hiring goals.

The company also will be required to retain 262 existing jobs. The Wendell facility is involved with developing smart grid technology, and is seeing a surge in demand.

The new jobs will pay average annual salaries of $88,883. That's higher than the Wake County average of $42,692, Gov. Bev Perdue's office noted in a news release.

Duke Energy will pull the plug on its plan to build up to three wind turbines in North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound, citing high costs, the Charlotte Observer's Bruce Henderson reports.

Duke and UNC Chapel Hill signed a contract in September to work together in the demonstration project, which would evaluate the potential of wind energy and its environmental impacts on the sound.

Duke said it will refocus its work on larger-scale wind projects in offshore waters. High initial costs make a larger project more economically viable than a smaller one, Duke said.

It would cost $88 million to install the first turbine in Pamlico Sound, the company said. The need for shallow-water construction techniques and a growing potential for disturbing underwater vegetation would also complicate the project, Duke said.

“The cost of the project simply exceeds the benefits our customers would receive if we were to continue,” said Paul Newton, Duke’s senior vice president of strategy for its regulated businesses.

Read the full Charlotte Observer story here.