Green Source Advantage Program

UNC Chapel Hill has a rare opportunity to invest in renewable energy through Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage (GSA) Program, established by the Competitive Energy Solutions Law, (NC HB 589). As stated by the UNC Media Hub in Chapelboro News, "Since it is illegal in North Carolina to purchase power from a third party, the GSA program provides a way for customers to use renewable energy while still buying the electricity through Duke Energy." UNC Chapel Hill relies on Duke Energy to supply 70-85% of the campus' electricity needs.

The program is structured so that UNC Chapel Hill would receive a bill credit based on the avoided cost of the utility, since a third party is contracted for renewable generation capacity. The Commission has previously set Duke Energy’s avoided cost to be calculated over a five year period.

The challenge is: Our public university system is constrained to provide electricity at least cost to its campuses. Due to this, UNC Chapel Hill's bill credit would have to be larger than their normal electricity bill for the program to ever be considered feasible. In short, UNC system schools need longer term price stability to participate the Green Source Advantage (GSA) Program.

The Green Source Advantage (GSA) Program would be a huge step in the right direction, and No Coal UNC is urging UNC Chapel Hill to do everything possible to participate in the Green Source Advantage Program with a minimum megawattage of 112.