Court Tests NC Ban On Selling Solar Power To Greensboro Church

North Carolina's highest court is considering whether a clean-energy advocacy group illegally sold solar power to one church to undercut the monopoly power of the state's electric utilities.

The state Supreme Court on Tuesday sorted through differing descriptions of the 2015 deal which saw the group NC WARN install solar panels atop a Greensboro church. Faith Community Church agreed to pay below-market rates for the power produced.

Attorneys for Duke Energy, Dominion Energy and the state's official utilities consumer advocate say the contract shows NC WARN is selling the church electricity, something only regulated utilities are allowed to do.

NC WARN's attorney says the private deal with one church doesn't fit the description of selling to the public, though the group wanted to repeat the agreement with other nonprofits statewide.