Sisters of Mercy solar installation opens NC city to more approved ground-mounts

A solar company called Pisgah Energy just finished a large solar project for the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont, North Carolina. The 680-kilowatt system, built with ground-mounted panels (installed on racks in the ground rather than on a roof), now covers about 30% of the campus's energy needs.

The bigger news for local homeowners: Belmont's city rules did not originally allow ground-mounted solar installations anywhere in the city. While working on the Sisters of Mercy project, Pisgah Energy and the Sisters pushed for a change to the city's land development rules. After months of work, Belmont approved the update. That means ground-mounted solar systems are now allowed within city limits, not just for this one project but for any property owner in Belmont who wants one.

If you live in Belmont and have been considering solar but ruled out a ground-mounted system because of local rules, this change may open that option for you. Ground mounts can be useful if your roof does not get enough sun, is the wrong shape, or you would rather keep your roof clear. The project itself used Qcells panels and SMA inverters. There is no word here on rebates or costs tied to this specific change, so anyone interested in a ground-mounted system in Belmont would need to check with the city directly on the new ordinance and how it applies to a home installation.