Solar Energy in Rural North Carolina
Can farming and solar-energy production coexist? EnerWealth works with farmland owners and energy co-ops to make sure rural communities get a piece of the pie.
State of Change
PREMIERING MONDAY, 4/22 ON PBS NC
Watch State of Change
A PBS NC Original Production
This season, State of Change: Seeds of Hope meet the North Carolinians who are adapting to our changing climate in new and inspiring ways. From conserving land and growing food that’s tolerant of extreme conditions to using farmland to produce both crops and solar energy, these innovators are facing the challenges of climate change with perseverance and ingenuity.
State of Change is part of the Pulitzer Center’s Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
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Climate Change Stories
Hear from North Carolinians in these stories about climate change effects & innovative solutions across the state.
Adapting Our Food System to a Changing Climate
The Utopian Seed Project in western NC is developing regionally adapted varieties of crops and introducing tropical staples to increase resiliency.
Conserving Land to Increase Climate Resiliency
The Conservation Trust for NC and the Historic Orchard at Altapass work to strengthen climate resiliency along the Blue Ridge Parkway through land conservation.
Of Salt and Soil
Coastal farmers in Hyde County work to keep their land productive in the face of saltwater intrusion.
How Planting Grasslands Fights Climate Change
The low-maintenance plants of the Piedmont Prairie have a superpower: they store carbon deep underground.
To Till or Not To Till?
Farmers and researchers in Reidsville see the positive impacts of no-till agriculture.
Peatland Potential
Unique wetlands on the NC coast are natural carbon storage ... if we keep them wet.
Coastal Erosion Solutions
Coastal regions in the U.S. are some of the most densely populated areas in the country, and they are also the most vulnerable to sea level rise.
![Charles looks up among the trees. Text is "Because [these trees] are almost 3000 years old, they give us the story of weather east of the Rockies." -Charles Robbins](https://image.pbs.org/bento3-prod/pbsnc-redesign-phase-1/shows/state-change/64b02b4d6c_state-change-charles-robbins-quote-1080x1080.jpeg)
NC's Ancient Trees
Our ancient trees are not just beautiful and majestic. They provide an accurate record of more than two millennia of weather east of the Rockies.
Farmers & Climate Change
Farmers like Samantha Winship pay attention to shifting weather patterns. They know firsthand that the climate is changing.
Commercial Fishing: Concerns & Challenges
Warming waters present more change in diverse fisheries. Commercial fishers are adapting.
Video Stories
Panel Discussion with Featured Guests
Following a screening of the film, Frank Graff, host "Sci NC" leads a conversation about climate resiliency, focusing on solar energy and growing plants that are conditioned for extreme weather conditions.
Panelists: Kathie Dello, Director of NC State Climate Office; Mary Alice Holley Associate Director of Conservation Trust for North Carolina; Steve Kalland, Executive Director of NC Energy Collaborative; Michelle Lotker, Executive Producer of State of Change; Ajulo Othow, CEO of EnerWealth Solutions; Jacob Rutz, Lecturer of agroecology at Elon University.
State of Change is produced with support from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is part of the Pulitzer Center’s Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
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