NASCAR Embraces Electric and 5 Other Unexpected Signs of Progress in the Southeast

The Clean Energy Generation is growing. From a motorsports park going solar to a police chief embracing EVs, and even a conservative county going electric, individuals and communities across the Southeast are embracing clean energy—regardless of background, occupation, or even, in some cases, political beliefs. Take a look at just six of the many encouraging, and sometimes unexpected, signs of clean energy adoption in the Southeast we’ve seen over the past year.

Left photo of Trinity Episcopal Church’s Green Team courtesy of Georgia Interfaith Power and Light/Savannah Morning News; middle photo of Timbermill Wind wind turbine blade courtesy of Dylan Ray/Coastal Review

Church goes solar with Old Testament inspiration

Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro was Georgia’s first place of worship to tap into Georgia BRIGHT, a statewide program that covers the upfront cost of solar arrays for homeowners and nonprofits otherwise priced out of solar. The church’s new solar panels will supply 78% of the building’s power, slashing the congregation’s energy burden by more than $61,000 over the 25-year life of the deal. The upgrade will also eliminate an estimated 705 tons of carbon pollution, enough to power 148 homes for a year. Read more.

Chowan community embraces Timbermill Wind at kickoff

Last year, Chowan community members commemorated the kickoff of North Carolina’s Timbermill Wind project. Donald “Randy” Park, a retired farmer, said that most of the local farmers were pleased with the project because they could still farm around the turbines while also collecting regular payments. Park’s own mother-in-law collects $1,587 a month, an amount that will only grow now that the project is fully operational. And it’s not only farmers who are benefiting. In addition to creating 200 jobs, the project is expected to provide up to $33 million in tax revenue. Read more.

NASCAR, ABB plan an electric race car

NASCAR was among seven recipients of the 2024 North Carolina Clean Energy Champion Awards. The recognition acknowledges NASCAR’s embrace of solar energy, use of EV chargers, and commitment to going carbon-zero by 2035. Perhaps most excitingly, NASCAR is developing a prototype electric race car with more than 1,300 horsepower — an important step to getting clean energy in front of NASCAR’s more conservative fans. Read more.

Left photo of Atlanta Motorsports Park courtesy of Atlanta Motorsports Park/pv magazine; middle photo courtesy of Ford/CleanTechnica; right photo courtesy of Highland Electric/Florida Phoenix

Atlanta Motorsports Park goes solar

Atlanta Motorsports Park, which houses an F1-style road course and a karting course, has installed a solar array intended to power roughly 60% of its daily operations. The park’s 747 solar panels are generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 300 homes. The upgrade will offset an estimated 7,312 pounds of carbon pollution over 30 years, the equivalent of eliminating over 16.6 million miles of road vehicle travel or planting 109,600 trees. The announcement followed the park’s investment in EV charging, LED lighting, efficient fixtures, and more. Read more.

Police chief changes his mind on EVs

Georgia’s Avondale Estates police department began transitioning to electric police vehicles in August 2022. Today, four of the department’s 17 police vehicles are electric. Though Police Chief Harry Hess initially had reservations, he’s now a full EV convert. “I found that I could get two to three days’ worth of driving out of a full charge.” Between September 2022 and May 2024, the department saved nearly 2,790 gallons of gas and 19.87 tons of CO2, all while saving hundreds on fueling costs. “I’m anticipating full return on investment in year three or four.” Read more.

Small Florida county makes switch to electric school buses

Dixie County is proving that protecting student health doesn’t have to be political. The conservative Florida county recently debuted its fleet of 23 new school buses — all of them electric. For school officials, the biggest motivator wasn’t reducing emissions — it was increasing comfort. Unlike their predecessors, the district’s new electric buses have air conditioning. This not only keeps the drivers and students cooler, but allows them to keep the windows up, dodging the dust that typically floods through. Read more.

Follow along each week

These stories highlight just a few of the positive things happening in our area! Every day, we see signs of hope. The Clean Energy Generation is creating a future powered by clean energy that leads to clean air and water, good jobs, and vibrant communities.

Would you like to see more stories like this? We’ve got just the thing for you! Every Thursday, we share the latest clean energy news on Instagram with #CleanEnergyNews. Join us as we celebrate the progress and signs of hope in the clean energy transition.

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Together, all of us who are taking action are part of the Clean Energy Generation movement. We’re coming together to create healthier communities and a more secure and sustainable environment, starting now. No matter your age, income, zip code, or abilities, you can play a role. You don’t have to have the answers; learning more is a great way to start. Join us, and we’ll share ideas, resources, tools, and practices to show how we can all be part of the transformation.

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