Shoe Show, the footwear discount chain, is planning to build a giant solar farm at its Concord headquarters that would be the state's second-biggest solar energy array.

The company notified state regulators it wants to build a 4.975 megawatt system at its corporate complex in Cabarrus County. The N.C. Utilities Commission posted the filing on its web site this afternoon.

The solar farm would be built in three phases, with the first to begin generating electricity within two weeks, the company's filing states.

GE Aviation in Durham is the latest company to showcase a major solar power facility at its corporate site in this state.

The jet engine assembly company plans to put its system into operation in the coming week. GE Aviation is not selling the electricity, but rather using the power on site.

The 9,000 solar panels will offset up to one-third of the company's electricity use during maximum power output when the sun is shining.

The company is also selling subsidies, known as Renewable Energy Certificates, from the project to an undisclosed buyer. Power companies in many states, including North Carolina, are required to subsidize green energy, which does not require buying the electricity.

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.

General Electric says it's going to build the nation's largest solar panel factory, part of a $600 million dollar bet on the future of solar power in the United States.

Wind. Solar. Nuclear. Coal. Natural gas. Can all of these be considered clean energy?

In President Obama's State of the Union address, he challenged the nation to set a new goal that 80 percent of America's electricity will come from clean energy sources by 2035. Read reactions to the Obama's new goal.

Are you using solar power? If you’ve installed a solar device at your house – anything from simple lighting to a large-scale panel – we want to hear from you. Send your name and a daytime number to amberveverka@carolina.rr.com.

Progress Energy is now offering an incentive program that makes solar panels more affordable to homeowners at about one third of the market price. Read more about it on the .biz blog.

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.