North Carolina Leading Nation w/ $19B in Clean Energy Capital Investments

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North Carolina Leading Nation w/ $19B in Clean Energy Capital Investments

Businesses across our state have announced a total of 18 major new clean energy and electric vehicle (EV) projects totaling over $19 billion since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law, according to a new report from E2.

The new projects are expected to bring in over 8,800 new jobs to our state.

Nationally, 292 projects, 102,000 new jobs, and $118 billion in new investments have been announced in 41 states and Puerto Rico since the IRA passed.

Highlights from the report:

  • North Carolina is #5 nationally in clean energy projects announced since IRA with 18.
  • North Carolina is #4 nationally for most jobs announced by new clean energy projects with 8,868.
  • North Carolina is #1 nationally for most total investment dollars announced for new clean energy projects with $19.2 billion.
  • Michigan led all states with three announcements in February, followed by North Carolina with two.

Clean Energy Works | total projects announced by state Aug. 2022-Feb.2024

State
Projects
Announced Jobs
Announced Investments
Alabama
6
1,350
$1,603,000,000
Arkansas
2
500
$250,000,000
Arizona
9
2,330
$5,901,000,000
California
13
160
$1,600,000,000
Colorado
7
2,382
$880,000,000
Connecticut
4
100
$24,800,000
Florida
2
250
$72,000,000
Georgia
27
15,481
$15,086,500,000
Iowa
2
0
$0
Illinois
7
2,719
$2,563,500,000
Indiana
10
4,222
$6,416,000,000
Kansas
2
0
$0
Kentucky
8
1,149
$1,958,400,000
Louisiana
5
1,039
$1,713,500,000
Massachusetts
6
1,041
$45,700,000
Maryland
1
145
$14,000,000
Maine
1
200
$6,000,000
Michigan
26
11,807
$11,635,600,000
Minnesota
4
700
$155,000,000
Missouri
2
300
$100,000,000
Mississippi
3
2,340
$2,015,000,000
North Carolina
18
8,868
$19,230,459,000
Nebraska
1
0
$0
New Hampshire
1
0
$16,300,000
New Mexico
6
2,542
$1,243,000,000
Nevada
6
5,250
$6,600,000,000
New York
11
2,759
$783,000,000

Governor McMaster About to Sign Open Carry into Law in South Carolina

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Governor McMaster About to Sign Open Carry into Law in South Carolina

South Carolina is poised to allow open carry of firearms, following the passage of the “Second Amendment Preservation Act” by both the SC state House and SC Senate.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Brandon Cox of Berkeley County, and permits individuals legally allowed to own a gun to carry it openly, aligning South Carolina with over twenty states with similar laws.

The legislation surrounding the SC open carry law has sparked debate, especially among law enforcement concerned about increased difficulties in identifying threats due to more individuals carrying weapons openly. To address these concerns, the bill includes stricter penalties for felons found with weapons and allocates funding for free gun training for adults seeking a concealed weapons permit.

Currently, the state only permits open carry for those with concealed weapons permits.

The bill now heads to Governor Henry McMaster’s desk, where he is expected to be signed into law.

The Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship Will Return in 2024

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With greyhound racing banned across most of the United States, chances for speedy canines to compete are thin on the ground.

But Charlotte has its own unique race that looks set to become an annual event, with the inaugural 2023 edition so well received.

The Charlotte Corgi Club will be hosting its Racing Championship on May 4, with this unique breed once again given the chance to strut their stuff at Reedy Creek Park.

Four-Legged Festival

In the UK and Ireland, dog racing is still a popular sporting pastime, with major races like the English Greyhound Derby commanding prize money for the winner in excess of $200,000.

The sport is popular with dog lovers and bettors alike, with many a greyhound racing betting site offering odds for the big races like The Derby – patriots may want to back King Memphis (+1600) for the 2024 edition over fellow favorite Links Maverick.

It’s a far cry from the dog racing scene in America, where many states have now outlawed the sport – at the time of writing, only two tracks in West Virginia at the Wheeling Island Hotel and the Mardi Gras Casino Resort are legal and operational.

Greyhound racing was a sport first established in the U.S. as far back as 1912, with tracks in California and Florida particularly popular with enthusiasts. The sport never made it to North Carolina, so a hop over the border to West Virginia was required to see these fine animals in action.

With the easing of the law on sports betting in North Carolina, there’s a chance to bet on racing in West Virginia too courtesy of the sportsbook properties that opened their doors in March.

By Royal Appointment

But if you prefer your canine kicks more laidback, you can head down to Reedy Creek Park for what we might label a ‘royal appointment’.

The corgi was the favored breed of Queen Elizabeth II, who it’s believed owned 30 different corgis during her 70-year reign on the throne in the UK – even appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair with her beloved dogs by her side, while a commemorative gold coin celebrating the monarch’s Golden Jubilee featuring her corgis has been minted.

Although boasting smaller legs than greyhounds, corgis can still cover the ground quickly and made for quite a sight at the inaugural Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship last year.

That 2023 edition offered up all manner of entertainment alongside the races, including live music and food trucks, so the 2024 event will likely prove to be another successful event for all the family.

The Charlotte Corgi Club will also soon be publishing details of how owners can enter their pets into the day’s races, so if your corgi has shown a quick turn of speed in the past then maybe this could be their calling.

The event, which will take place at the Rocky River Road park, is free to all – the perfect opportunity to see some cute corgis in all their glory!

Gastonia SWAT Team Deployed To Active Shooter and Hostage Situation This Morning

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Gastonia SWAT Team Deployed To Active Shooter and Hostage Situation This Morning

An active shooter and hostage situation occurred early this morning in Gastonia near the intersection Crowder Creek Road and Chrisco Lane, ending in one person dead and one suspect in custody.

The Gastonia Police Department had to deploy their SWAT team to secure the area following reports of gunfire.

Authorities have confirmed the scene is now secure and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Further details are pending as the investigation continues. Residents are advised to avoid the area during the ongoing investigation.

North Carolina’s Super Tuesday Results: Biden, Trump, and ‘No Preference’ Emerge Victorious

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North Carolina’s Super Tuesday Results: Biden, Trump, and ‘No Preference’ Emerge Victorious

On Super Tuesday, North Carolina voters took to the polls to select their preferred candidates for the November general elections, with key races on the line including governor, U.S. House, and the presidential nominations.

Here are the official results from the NC State Board of Elections:

President Joe Biden stood as the sole candidate on the Democratic primary ballot, along with the choice to select “No preference” as an alternative.

The Republican ballot saw former President Donald Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as the only significant contenders.

In the Libertarian presidential primary, No Preference finished just shy of the majority with 40.42% of the total vote, followed by Chase Oliver and TrimeTavaler.

Many eyes were also on the gubernatorial primaries where our current Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, and the Republican lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, emerged victorious, teeing up a high-stakes showdown for the governor’s mansion this November.

This Super Tuesday outcome not only reflects the political dynamics within North Carolina but also underscores the state’s critical role in the broader national political landscape as we move closer to the November elections.

Did your preferred candidate win yesterday? 

Charlotte’s Hopeway Just Launched A New Treatment Program For Vets and First Responders

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Charlotte’s Hopeway Just Launched A New Treatment Program For Vets and First Responders

HopeWay – a Joint Commission-accredited nonprofit mental health treatment center – announced that it is now offering a new Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) specifically for Veterans and First Responders.

“Veterans and First Responders are the unsung heroes who selflessly put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities and our country,” said Justin Johnson, MD, DFAPA, a board-certified psychiatrist and director of Veteran & First Responder Services at HopeWay. “They regularly face traumatic and high-stress situations that can have a profound impact on their mental health. After seeing a need in the community for both Veterans and First Responders, we created this new program to serve both groups.”

Clients in this program will participate in group therapy while continuing to see their individual providers in the community. Groups will focus on trauma and recovery – utilizing Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Post-traumatic Growth groups, process groups and integrative therapies – to help individuals learn skills to manage their mental health struggles and achieve their desired goals.

“We are excited to expand our service offerings to help our nation’s heroes find hope and healing through evidence-based mental health treatment,” said Alyson R. Kuroski-Mazzei, DO, DFAPA, FASAM, a triple-boarded psychiatrist who is HopeWay’s chief executive officer and chief medical officer. “The toll of experiences that Veterans and First Responders face can lead to significant mental health struggles that often go unnoticed or untreated. As a non-profit, we are grateful to be able to continue to meet the needs of our community by launching this new program so that we can treat the devastating and often invisible wounds suffered by Veterans and First Responders.”

Groups meet Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at HopeWay (1717 Sharon Road West in Charlotte) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information about the program and admissions, contact HopeWay’s Admissions Team at 1-844-HOPEWAY or visit hopeway.org/veterans-program.

Rock Hill Is Taking A New Direction For The Failed Panthers’ Headquarters

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Rock Hill Is Taking A New Direction For The Failed Panthers’ Headquarters
via Colliers

The City of Rock Hill has just stepped in to take over the marketing and future redevelopment of the deserted Carolina Panthers headquarters.

They have now branded it as the “Rock Hill Overlook”.

According to the official listing, “Rock Hill Overlook is a premier ± 245 acre site ideal for corporate headquarters/ manufacturing with immediate access to I-77 via Exit 81 interchange. The property offers remarkable access to Rock Hill & the greater Charlotte markets with visibility from I-77, with an astounding ± 5,679 FT of frontage. This first-class property offers unprecedented energy reserve. Ideally suited for corporate headquarters, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agribusiness, automotive, electric vehicles, and/or life sciences . Current zoning MP-C. Site currently has 11 megawatts readily available via two sub-stations less than 1 mile away from site, offering electrical redundancy. Expansion to 50 megawatts possible via Rock Hill Electric with transformers and switchgear on hand.”

+/- 245 AC Mixed-Use Property For Sale from Videoms.com on Vimeo.

This new initiative comes two years after Panthers owner David Tepper canceled the headquarters project, leading to its bankruptcy.

Rock Hill’s acquisition of the site through bankruptcy proceedings marks a strategic move to repurpose the property for economic growth, reminiscent of the city’s successful shift to sports tourism after the textile industry’s decline.

This redevelopment represents a pivotal step in Rock Hill’s ongoing efforts to foster economic development and innovation throughout the region.

North Carolina at the Crossroads: Super Tuesday Voting Now Underway

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North Carolina at the Crossroads: Super Tuesday Voting Now Underway

Today on “Super Tuesday”, North Carolina voters will be casting their ballots today in the 2024 primary elections, a pivotal moment for selecting candidates for key roles including the U.S. presidency, Congress, governor, and attorney general.

Ahead of today’s in-person voting, election officials with the NCSBOE report that nearly 700,000 North Carolinians have already early voted, a number significantly higher than in past primaries.

Unlike in the South Carolina primary, where party affiliation didn’t matter, NC voters must adhere to their registered political party or a nonpartisan option, if available.

Identification is required at the polls, with acceptable forms including a North Carolina driver’s license, a state ID, a driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state (for those who registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election), a U.S. passport, a North Carolina voter photo ID card, approved college or university student IDs, and state or local government employee IDs.

With over 200 polling places operational, voters must go to their assigned location to vote. Those with absentee ballots should be aware that with the polls closing at 7:30 p.m. this Super Tuesday, timely submission is critical for their vote to count.

Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., as North Carolinians play a key role in shaping the future political landscape ahead of the general elections.

Charlotte Is Among the Nation’s Leading Markets for Future Office-to-Apartment Conversions

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Charlotte Is Among the Nation’s Leading Markets for Future Office-to-Apartment Conversions

Once your cubicle, soon your cozy apartment – America enters 2024 with a record pipeline of  repurposed office spaces. A staggering 55K office-to-apartments are expected across the U.S in the coming years, marking a fourfold increase from four years prior.

Charlotte is a frontrunner in this resurgence, ranking 20th nationwide for the substantial number of new apartments that will be delivered as a result of office conversions.

Here are the key highlights for Charlotte, according to our latest adaptive reuse report:

  • Charlotte is set to add 864 new apartments by repurposing old office spaces. The office-to-apartment projects make up 45% of all conversions, followed by hotels (34%) and factories (21%).
  • This is a significant 8% jump in Charlotte’s office-to-apartment pipeline since last year, highlighting this niche’s rapid growth in the city.
  • The adaptive reuse project at 526 South Church St. stands out as Charlotte’s largest and the 7th largest in the country (450 units).
  • Next in line are the Prosperity Place redevelopment (350 units) and the Ford City Motor Lofts project in Salisbury (64 units).
  • From 2021 to 2024, the number of apartments scheduled for conversion from old office spaces increased from 12,100 to 55,300 nationwide. This trend is most prominent in Washington, D.C. (5,820 units), New York (5,215 units) and Dallas (3,163 units).

You can check out the full report here.

North Carolina Ranked Among The Top States For Urban Tiny House Living

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North Carolina Ranked Among The Top States For Urban Tiny House Living

Looking to downsize? Some states are more ideal for a tiny house than others.

To mark TinyFest California this March, LawnStarter ranked 2024’s Best States for Tiny House Living.

The verdict: North Carolina is the No. 8 best state for tiny house living in an urban setting and No. 17 overall.

How does North Carolina stack up in some key metrics (1st = Best)?

  • Average Yard Acreage – 8th
  • Tiny House Legality Score – 1st
  • Off-Grid Lifestyle Index – 38th

2024’s Best States for Tiny House Living

 

To come up with our ranking, the site compared the 50 states on the legality of constructing a tiny home. We also looked at the suitability of building in an urban setting based on average yard acreages and in a remote environment based on off-grid lifestyle-friendliness, a separate LawnStarter ranking that consists of 23 key factors.

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