SOLAR GENERATED ELECTRICITY: AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT SECTORS ARE MOST AFFECTED BY RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS AND RELATED POLICIES

The aim of this thesis is to analyze state-specific Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) to understand their design and spillover effect onto non-utility (commercial, residential, industrial) sectors. Past research has overlooked non-utility sectors, often focusing on overall renewable energy growth and electricity generation from a combined end-result perspective. Solar capacity and solar generated electricity data from 5 states are used to establish which non-utility sectors experienced the highest level of solar growth from RPSs and related policies between 2010 and 2019. An explanatory sequential design is utilized, where interrupted time series analyses and exploratory case studies are performed to analyze each policy’s effectiveness at increasing solar growth (measured in capacity or electricity generation). It was concluded that the commercial sector experienced the highest level of solar growth of the sectors analyzed. In addition, policies regarding net metering, aggregate net metering, and Solar Renewable Energy Credits were found to significantly increase solar growth in the commercial sector. The residential sector was found to only exhibit significant solar growth from financial incentives, while the industrial sector displayed no significant solar growth from the RPS policies analyzed. The findings of this research can help influence future renewable energy policy designs and act as a vehicle for research on other renewable energy sources

I didn’t have the time of my life: Qualitative data collection challenges at the 2017 Dirty Dancing Festival

In August 2017 two brave researchers embarked on a journey to try a novel approach to collect data at the Dirty Dancing Festival at Lake Lure, North Carolina, United States. Our hope was to utilize qualitative data collection methods to empower the attendees at the festival to share their lived experiences of the festival through their lens. We asked them to upload their photos using social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. However, several unforeseen circumstances, including lack of wireless internet, impaired the data collection. Even with a backup of ipads for data collection, our efforts were challenged. In this paper, we will share our challenges with novel approaches to data collection and offer suggestions for future data collection

The Emergence of Craft Distilling Tourism: The Role of Community Capitals

This study examines which Community Capitals have aided in the establishment of a craft distilling tourism product in North Carolina. Qualitative data collected from in depth interviews with distillers revealed that Social, Human, Political, Financial, Cultural, and Natural Capital played a role in creating a craft distilling tourism product. The presentation offers discussion of how these Capitals were manifest in this context and managerial implications for investing in these Capitals to sustain the development of the craft distilling tourism product in North Carolina

College Transition Study Shows 4-H Helps Youth Prepare for and Succeed in College

Many young adults enter college without the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine if 4-H helps develop life skills needed for the transition to college and overall college success. An online survey was sent to college-attending 4-H alumni and a comparison group, with a final sample size of 268 students. Results showed 4-H alumni rated significantly higher than the comparison group on six life skills constructs. These findings can be used to show 4-H program impact and how 4-H participation helps young people prepare for and succeed in college

Handheld Transvaginal Probe for Pap Smear Exams

This project aims to discard the use of the speculum in pap smear exams. A pap smear is a procedure that tests for cervical cancer in individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) by screening cells collected from the cervix. Speculums are utilized in these examinations, as well as other gynecologic examinations and procedures. Due to the stigma and racist and misogynistic history of the speculum, we moved to design a device that removes the need for specula in pap smear exams. This device will aim to decrease the cervical cancer mortality rate and reduce the stigma around pap smear exams