In 1946, following the end of World War II, the country’s appetite for automobiles was insatiable. That year Joseph ‘Mack’ Mitchell built Mitchell Chevrolet, located in downtown Fuquay-Varina and started the first Chevy dealership in southern Wake County. You might say he was a pioneer who saw an opportunity and took a chance to meet the needs of the time.

Today, the historic Mitchell building is undergoing a full-scale renovation into retail and restaurant space that also includes downtown Fuquay-Varina’s first solar panel installation. The 10kw PV (photovoltaic) system installed by Baker Renewable Energy has been commissioned.

The renewable energy captured by the (72) 18”x80” flexible solar panels on the building’s roof is estimated to be equivalent to the planting of 1,900 trees or to offset 26,000 lbs of CO2; 9,000 lbs of coal not burned; or 1,475 gallons of gasoline not consumed annually. The benefits to the environment are significant.

Combined with incentives offered by utilities and state and local governments, the inclusion of renewable energy in The Mitchell renovation was an easy decision for owners Eric and Mary Christofferson. Electricity captured from the solar panels will be purchased by Progress Energy by connecting directly to the electricity grid. And by presenting a statement showing kwH sold to Progress Energy, additional incentives are offered by the NC Greenpower Program. NC Greenpower’s goal is to supplement the state’s existing power supply with more green energy – electricity generated from renewable resources like the sun, wind and organic matter.

These incentives combined with 30 percent federal and 35 percent state tax credits will yield a payback of less than four years for the system installed at The Mitchell.

The Christofferson’s are delighted with the system installed by Baker Renewable Energy and were excited to ‘flip the switch’. Somewhere, Joseph ‘Mack’ Mitchell might be smiling as well.

Members of the Mitchell family attended the ribbon cutting held last week as The Mitchell officially opened for business. Their first tenant is Cellar 101, a wine bar. More tenants are expected to sign on to be included in the centrally located historical building.