Duke Energy says its $62 million rebate program in North Carolina is successfully driving solar adoption in the state – and, in fact, the company’s Solar Energy Program 2019 participation levels for non-residential customers have already been reached after the company launched the 2019 application window on January 2.

The company says it has received more than 2,000 applications for rebates in 2019.

On January 1, 2018, Duke Energy said it had 5,000 rooftop solar customers; today, that number hovers around 9,000, the company says. The rebate program helps customers with the upfront costs of installing on-site solar.

With the program, nonresidential customers are eligible for a rebate of 50 cents per watt. Nonprofit customers (such as churches and schools) are eligible for an enhanced rebate of 75 cents per watt for systems 100 kW or less. Installed systems 100 kW or greater are eligible for a maximum rebate of $50,000 for nonresidential customers, or $75,000 for nonprofit customers.

Customers also have a solar leasing option. Instead of owning the system, customers can lease solar panels from another company. Much like leasing a car, a third-party leasing agency owns the system while the customer has a contract to use the output of the solar panels, Duke Energy explained when it launched the program last April.

Duke Energy’s overall commitment to renewables remains strong. The company said in its most recent sustainability report that its renewable energy capacity grew by almost 20% in 2017.