Financial rebates for buying energy-efficient home appliances will expire Monday under North Carolina's latest Energy Star rebate program. State officials are urging those who bought high-efficiency appliances on or after Jan. 1 to claim up to $300 in rebates by 5 p.m. Monday.

The program, launched in February, pays between $50 and $300 for purchases of air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters and other efficient appliances. The money comes from the federal stimulus package that is now wrapping up as the funds are depleted.

North Carolina has offered several Energy Star rebate programs in past years, distributing more than $11 million for nearly 80,000 appliance purchases. The current program will disburse an additional $1.2 million.

To claim a rebate residents are asked to go to www.ncappliancerebate.com/ or call 1-855-208-6242.

State officials for the third time in the past two years are offering financial incentives for purchases of energy-efficient home appliances.

The N.C. Department of Commerce is offering up to $300 for qualifying appliances bought this year, retroactive to Jan. 1. The incentives will be offered as federal stimulus money is freed up from other programs until the cash runs out.

State officials are intent on using as much of the federal funds as possible so as not to have to return unused grants. The money comes from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and must be used by federally-set deadlines.
 

Despite a slowdown in infrastructure spending and rising fuel costs, Martin Marietta Materials reported solid third-quarter earnings Tuesday.

The company, which produces rock, gravel and other materials used to build roads, subdivisions and commercial buildings, had sales of $464 million for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, up 4.6 percent from the same period in 2010.

Excluding one-time charges, the company reported earnings per share of $1.11. That was above the $1.09 a share that was the consensus among analysts who follow the company.

Martin Marietta now expects to ship anywhere from 2 to 4 percent fewer materials in 2011 than it did a year ago. The company’s fuel costs for the quarter rose 16 percent.

Organizations in the Triangle and elsewhere received $4.6 million this week in government grants for green energy in one of the last distributions of stimulus money in this state.

The grants, paid out through the N.C. Department of Commerce, will pay for solar-powered electric vehicle recharging stations in Asheville, swine waste-to-energy projects in Harnett County, and public workshops and exhibits promoting energy-efficient home retrofits.

The grants range in size from about $24,000 to $500,000. Recipients in the Triangle include private businesses and N.C. State University.

The local grants will pay for a geothermal HVAC system at Kyma Technologies in Raleigh, electric vehicle recharging stations by Praxis Technologies in Raleigh, fuel cell units by Microcell Corp. in Raleigh, training in energy audits by Go Green Lighting in Chapel Hill, as well as for the audits themselves to be conducted by Southern Energy Management in Morrisville.

State officials announced $8.5 million in federal stimulus money for energy and conservation projects as North Carolina begins to wind down its stimulus funding.

The awards announced this morning by Gov. Bev Perdue's office range from $24,719 for a YMCA in Buncombe County to $500,000 for resin and fiber maker DAK Americas in Brunswick County and $500,000 for Kapstone Kraft, a paper mill in Halifax County.

The awards will pay for rooftop solar panels, landfill gas reclamation, solar thermal heating units and energy efficiency upgrades at local town halls, nonprofits and businesses.

State energy officials said today they have scrounged up another $1 million for rebates to residents who buy energy-efficient appliances.

The N.C. State Energy Office is making the money available to people who buy appliances with the federal Energy Star efficiency rating.

The rebates range from $75 for freezers and dishwashers to $300 for gas furnaces and air conditioners.

The U.S. Department of Labor said today it has approved the release of $205 million in stimulus funds that will be used to modernize North Carolina's unemployment insurance system.

The state's Employment Security Commission can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits, or use it to improve the system by which North Carolina delivers employment services.

The stimulus act included $7 billion for modernizing unemployment programs.

Raleigh will have more than 100 electric car recharging stations in the next two years as funding for the curbside pods keeps yielding new announcements.

The N.C. Department of Commerce today announced $625,000 in federal stimulus funding to defray the cost of the recharging stations. This latest announcement is part of an $8 million grant award to pay for alternative fuels and advanced transportation technology around the state.

The state had been slated to receive about 350 recharging stations in the next two years through a combination of stimulus money, research grants and industry funding.

That number is now expected to exceed 400 charging stations as pending grant applications translate into grant awards.  Much of the cost will be paid by stimulus funds, which are designed to help transition the nation's economy and infrastructure from fossil fuels to alternative energy resources.

The state still has $500,000 left in rebates for residents who buy energy-efficient appliances.

The money is left over from $8 million in federal stimulus funds to promote energy efficiency. Most of it was distributed in April and the rest was expected to be used up in June.

But some shoppers who reserved qualifying appliances with the federal Energy Star efficiency rating ended up not making the purchases, which has freed up the money for others.

The rebates range from $75 for freezers and dishwashers to $300 for central air conditioners and natural gas furnaces.

The rebates will be available until the money is depleted. Consumers must go online to reserve their rebates and complete an application form. Those lacking Internet access can call 1-877-379-7323.

More than 62,000 appliances have been purchased so far under the rebate program.

North Carolina will be able to weatherize about 800 homes more than previously expected with a $2 million infusion from the federal stimulus fund.

The $2 million announced today will add to the $132 million previously allotted for the state's weatherization program.

The weatherization aspect of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, open to low-income households, is part of the Obama administration's strategy to improve the nation's energy efficiency. Weatherization typically involves free insulation, duct-sealing and other measures that cut energy waste and can slash utility bills for homeowners.