Southeast Clean Energy Boom Creates 85,000+ Jobs

The clean energy revolution just got a Dolly Parton stamp of approval.

Dollywood, the beloved Tennessee theme park, recently installed seven EV charging stations with 14 ports in its preferred parking lot. Guests can now charge their cars while enjoying roller coasters, and thanks to 10 new solar-powered umbrellas nearby, they can charge their phones in the shade too.

But the theme park upgrade is just one spark in a Southeast energy transformation that's creating real economic wins. In rural Chowan County, North Carolina, the Timbermill Wind farm just became the county's largest taxpayer, generating $1.5 million annually in tax revenue. Over the next three decades, that adds up to $50 million for a community that desperately needed the boost, while farmers earn steady income leasing their land for turbines.

Georgia added 3,000 clean energy jobs in 2024 alone, bringing the state's total to more than 85,500. That's seven times more jobs than the fossil fuel industry employs there, and the sector is growing five times faster than Georgia's overall economy.

The U.S. Postal Service is getting in on the action too, with 700 South Carolina-made electric delivery vehicles already on the road. The agency has ordered 51,500 next-generation vehicles total, with 45,000 expected to be electric by 2028. Mail carriers will finally get air conditioning, better visibility, and improved safety features in these new rides.

In Florida, DeConna Ice Cream is proving that solar and sundaes go together perfectly. The iconic brand, founded in 1947 by WWII veteran Don "Big Daddy" DeConna, now offsets 65% of its electricity use with solar panels. The system helps stabilize energy costs while the family business distributes ice cream across 23 states.

The Ripple Effect: The most exciting development might be the quietest. Twenty-four states, including South Carolina, have introduced bills allowing residents to install small plug-in solar devices without utility company permission. These panels produce up to 1,200 watts and plug straight into standard outlets in homes and apartments, making clean energy accessible to renters and homeowners alike. Experts predict 2026 could be the year plug-in solar finally breaks through nationwide, democratizing renewable energy for millions who couldn't afford traditional rooftop installations.

The clean energy generation isn't coming someday—it's creating jobs, stabilizing budgets, and powering communities across the Southeast right now.