Clean Energy Survey (2010)

Western North Carolina Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuels / Vehicles Businesses (Survey 2010)

Land-of-Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) requests your participation in this survey to provide a better understanding of those businesses in the region that are currently involved with Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuels/Vehicles.

We believe that your company will benefit from enhanced regional capability in this clean energy arena and we urge you to take 10-15 minutes to complete the survey. We will identify gaps in the supply chain to businesses that might be filled by existing or new businesses and create new employment opportunities for the region. This survey also helps determine how community colleges may further serve this business cluster by providing initial information to guide their plans to address the training needs of the region.

This survey is similar to the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association Census 2009 which you may have completed last year but is necessary because company specific information is not available. You may receive multiple requests to participate in this survey since we are working with other organizations in order to expand our survey audience. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Thank you for completing the survey.

If you have questions regarding this survey, please contact me (dan@landofsky.org).

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* 1. Prior to starting the survey, please verify that your company meets AT LEAST ONE of the following criteria:

A. At least 50% of company staff time is dedicated to work related to renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles.

B. At least 50% of company revenue comes from work related to renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles.

C. Your company generates at least $25,000 in economic gain (revenue, avoided costs, etc.) from work directly related to renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles.

If you have selected “NO,” please complete questions 2 and 3 and submit survey. We would be happy to include your responses to other questions if you would like to participate.

YES - My company or organization meets at least one of these criteria. Please complete the survey.

NO – My company or organization does not meet any of these criteria.

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* 2. What is your company's name and website?

Company Name:

Website:

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* 3. What is your contact information?

First Name:

Last Name:

Job Title:

Address:

City/Town:

State:

ZIP:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

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* 4. If your company's primary North Carolina address differs from the response in Question 3, please include your company's primary North Carolina address.

Primary address refers to company’s location of the North Carolina-based management team.

Primary Address:

City/Town/State:

ZIP/Postal Code:

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* 5. Is your company's headquarters located in North Carolina?

Yes

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* 6. Does your company have more than one location in North Carolina?

Yes

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* 7. If you responded “yes” to the previous question, please check the counties your company has a presence in, otherwise skip this question and proceed to the next question.

Presence means a satellite office, manufacturing facility, or county of residence for remote employees.

Alamance

Alexander

Alleghany

Anson

Ashe

Avery

Beaufort

Bertie

Bladen

Brunswick

Buncombe

Burke

Cabarrus

Caldwell

Camden

Carteret

Caswell

Catawba

Chatham

Cherokee

Chowan

Clay

Cleveland

Columbus

Craven

Cumberland

Currituck

Dare

Davidson

Davie

Duplin

Durham

Edgecombe

Forsyth

Franklin

Gaston

Gates

Graham

Granville

Greene

Guilford

Halifax

Harnett

Haywood

Henderson

Hertford

Hoke

Hyde

Iredell

Jackson

Johnston

Jones

Lee

Lenoir

Lincoln

McDowell

Macon

Madison

Martin

Mecklenburg

Mitchell

Montgomery

Moore

Nash

New Hanover

Northampton

Onslow

Orange

Pamlico

Pasquotank

Pender

Perquimans

Person

Pitt

Polk

Randolph

Richmond

Robeson

Rockingham

Rowan

Rutherford

Sampson

Scotland

Stanly

Stokes

Surry

Swain

Transylvania

Tyrrell

Union

Vance

Wake

Warren

Washington

Watauga

Wayne

Wilkes

Wilson

Yadkin

Yancey

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* 8. In what year was your company

Originally founded?

First operating in North Carolina?

First operating in renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles activities?

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* 9. Please select (by order of importance to your company) up to three business types in which your company is currently operating.

	Most Important	2nd Most Important	3rd Most Important
Research and development	Research and development Most Important	Research and development 2nd Most Important	Research and development 3rd Most Important
Manufacturing	Manufacturing Most Important	Manufacturing 2nd Most Important	Manufacturing 3rd Most Important
Architect / construction / home builder / building	Architect / construction / home builder / building Most Important	Architect / construction / home builder / building 2nd Most Important	Architect / construction / home builder / building 3rd Most Important
Retrofits	Retrofits Most Important	Retrofits 2nd Most Important	Retrofits 3rd Most Important
Renewable energy systems installer, designer, or developer	Renewable energy systems installer, designer, or developer Most Important	Renewable energy systems installer, designer, or developer 2nd Most Important	Renewable energy systems installer, designer, or developer 3rd Most Important
Power generation facility owner or operator	Power generation facility owner or operator Most Important	Power generation facility owner or operator 2nd Most Important	Power generation facility owner or operator 3rd Most Important
Education, services and consulting (law, engineering, finance, etc.)	Education, services and consulting (law, engineering, finance, etc.) Most Important	Education, services and consulting (law, engineering, finance, etc.) 2nd Most Important	Education, services and consulting (law, engineering, finance, etc.) 3rd Most Important

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* 10. Please select (by order of importance to your company) up to three business focuses in which your company is currently operating.

	Most Important	2nd Most Important	3rd Most Important
Solar	Solar Most Important	Solar 2nd Most Important	Solar 3rd Most Important
Wind	Wind Most Important	Wind 2nd Most Important	Wind 3rd Most Important
Biomass	Biomass Most Important	Biomass 2nd Most Important	Biomass 3rd Most Important
Hydroelectric	Hydroelectric Most Important	Hydroelectric 2nd Most Important	Hydroelectric 3rd Most Important
Smart grid	Smart grid Most Important	Smart grid 2nd Most Important	Smart grid 3rd Most Important
Energy efficiency / building sciences	Energy efficiency / building sciences Most Important	Energy efficiency / building sciences 2nd Most Important	Energy efficiency / building sciences 3rd Most Important
Energy storage, including fuel cells	Energy storage, including fuel cells Most Important	Energy storage, including fuel cells 2nd Most Important	Energy storage, including fuel cells 3rd Most Important
Alternative fuels / vehicles:	Alternative fuels / vehicles: Most Important	Alternative fuels / vehicles: 2nd Most Important	Alternative fuels / vehicles: 3rd Most Important

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* 11. In the past 12 months what was the final destination of the majority of your company's renewable energy, energy efficiency, alternative fuels/vehicles products and services?

Final destination of majority was within North Carolina

Final destination of majority was within North Carolina border states (SC, TN, VA, GA)

Final destination of majority was within the United States

Final destination of majority was outside the United States

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* 12. Please estimate your company's current total North Carolina employment.

Please estimate based on full-time equivalent staff time (for example, two employees working half-time equal one full-time equivalent).

Number:

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* 13. Please estimate what percent (%) of your North Carolina staff time is dedicated to work within the renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels / vehicles marketplace.

Percent:

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* 14. Please estimate how many North Carolina full-time equivalent staff members working on renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels /vehicles your company or organization has:

Hired in the past 12 months

Laid off in the past 12 months

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* 15. Please estimate how many North Carolina full-time equivalent staff members working on renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles your company or organization:

Anticipates hiring in the next 12 months

Anticipates laying off in the next 12 months

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* 16. What was your total North Carolina annual revenue in the most recently concluded fiscal year? Please estimate if you do not know the exact number.

Less than $100,000

$100,000 but less than $500,000

$500,000 but less than $1 million

$1 million but less than $10 million

$10 million but less than $25 million

$25 million but less than $100 million

$100 million or more

Prefer not to answer

Do not know

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* 17. What percent of your firm’s annual North Carolina revenue was attributable to the renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels / vehicles industry in the most recently concluded fiscal year?

10% to 25%

26% to 50%

51% to 75%

76% to 99%

100%

Prefer not to respond.

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* 18. Please indicate the three most important current needs for your company's North Carolina business.

	Most Important	Second Most Important	Third Most Important
Access to finance	Access to finance Most Important	Access to finance Second Most Important	Access to finance Third Most Important
Access to funding (grants, etc.)	Access to funding (grants, etc.) Most Important	Access to funding (grants, etc.) Second Most Important	Access to funding (grants, etc.) Third Most Important
Electric or natural gas utility incentive programs	Electric or natural gas utility incentive programs Most Important	Electric or natural gas utility incentive programs Second Most Important	Electric or natural gas utility incentive programs Third Most Important
Local government incentives	Local government incentives Most Important	Local government incentives Second Most Important	Local government incentives Third Most Important
State regulatory structure	State regulatory structure Most Important	State regulatory structure Second Most Important	State regulatory structure Third Most Important
Local permitting and siting	Local permitting and siting Most Important	Local permitting and siting Second Most Important	Local permitting and siting Third Most Important
Availability of a well-trained workforce	Availability of a well-trained workforce Most Important	Availability of a well-trained workforce Second Most Important	Availability of a well-trained workforce Third Most Important
Availability of internship or other on the job training programs	Availability of internship or other on the job training programs Most Important	Availability of internship or other on the job training programs Second Most Important	Availability of internship or other on the job training programs Third Most Important

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* 19. Non-financial business assistance is provided by state and federal government, local nonprofits and service businesses. Please indicate the three most important areas of assistance for your company's North Carolina business.

	Most Important	Second Most Important	Third Most Important
Business planning	Business planning Most Important	Business planning Second Most Important	Business planning Third Most Important
Marketing/advertising	Marketing/advertising Most Important	Marketing/advertising Second Most Important	Marketing/advertising Third Most Important
Public Education	Public Education Most Important	Public Education Second Most Important	Public Education Third Most Important
Tax preparation	Tax preparation Most Important	Tax preparation Second Most Important	Tax preparation Third Most Important
Legal	Legal Most Important	Legal Second Most Important	Legal Third Most Important
Recruitment and prequalification of potential job applicants	Recruitment and prequalification of potential job applicants Most Important	Recruitment and prequalification of potential job applicants Second Most Important	Recruitment and prequalification of potential job applicants Third Most Important
Management consulting and educational services	Management consulting and educational services Most Important	Management consulting and educational services Second Most Important	Management consulting and educational services Third Most Important
Human resources management	Human resources management Most Important	Human resources management Second Most Important	Human resources management Third Most Important
Workforce training	Workforce training Most Important	Workforce training Second Most Important	Workforce training Third Most Important
Doing business with state or federal government	Doing business with state or federal government Most Important	Doing business with state or federal government Second Most Important	Doing business with state or federal government Third Most Important

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* 20. Does your company use any North Carolina Community College resources (staff training, business incubation, small business center, etc.)?

Yes

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* 21. If you have not used North Carolina Community College resources, would you use them if they were designed to meet a specific need for your company?

Yes

We currently use these resources

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* 22. Please indicate the top three functions in your company that will most benefit from community college courses or seminars.

	Most Benefit	Second Most Benefit	Third Most Benefit
Business planning	Business planning Most Benefit	Business planning Second Most Benefit	Business planning Third Most Benefit
Product development	Product development Most Benefit	Product development Second Most Benefit	Product development Third Most Benefit
Marketing / Advertising	Marketing / Advertising Most Benefit	Marketing / Advertising Second Most Benefit	Marketing / Advertising Third Most Benefit
Tax preparation	Tax preparation Most Benefit	Tax preparation Second Most Benefit	Tax preparation Third Most Benefit
Legal	Legal Most Benefit	Legal Second Most Benefit	Legal Third Most Benefit
Recruitment of employees	Recruitment of employees Most Benefit	Recruitment of employees Second Most Benefit	Recruitment of employees Third Most Benefit
Human resources management	Human resources management Most Benefit	Human resources management Second Most Benefit	Human resources management Third Most Benefit
Workforce training	Workforce training Most Benefit	Workforce training Second Most Benefit	Workforce training Third Most Benefit
Working with State or Federal Government	Working with State or Federal Government Most Benefit	Working with State or Federal Government Second Most Benefit	Working with State or Federal Government Third Most Benefit

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* 23. What part of your supply chain would be enhanced if there were an improved regional availability of supply chain links specific to your company (such as raw material, components, skilled employees or other links)?

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* 24. What does your company or organization perceive as the primary barrier to the energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels / vehicles industry in North Carolina?

Primary barrier:

Other barrier:

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* 25. If you know them, please indicate your company's primary 6 digit NAICS codes

NAICS:

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* 2. What is your company's name and website?

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* 3. What is your contact information?

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* 4. If your company's primary North Carolina address differs from the response in Question 3, please include your company's primary North Carolina address. Primary address refers to company’s location of the North Carolina-based management team.

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* 5. Is your company's headquarters located in North Carolina?

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* 6. Does your company have more than one location in North Carolina?

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* 7. If you responded “yes” to the previous question, please check the counties your company has a presence in, otherwise skip this question and proceed to the next question.Presence means a satellite office, manufacturing facility, or county of residence for remote employees.

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* 8. In what year was your company

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* 9. Please select (by order of importance to your company) up to three business types in which your company is currently operating.

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* 10. Please select (by order of importance to your company) up to three business focuses in which your company is currently operating.

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* 11. In the past 12 months what was the final destination of the majority of your company's renewable energy, energy efficiency, alternative fuels/vehicles products and services?

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* 12. Please estimate your company's current total North Carolina employment. Please estimate based on full-time equivalent staff time (for example, two employees working half-time equal one full-time equivalent).

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* 13. Please estimate what percent (%) of your North Carolina staff time is dedicated to work within the renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels / vehicles marketplace.

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* 14. Please estimate how many North Carolina full-time equivalent staff members working on renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels /vehicles your company or organization has:

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* 15. Please estimate how many North Carolina full-time equivalent staff members working on renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels/vehicles your company or organization:

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* 16. What was your total North Carolina annual revenue in the most recently concluded fiscal year? Please estimate if you do not know the exact number.

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* 17. What percent of your firm’s annual North Carolina revenue was attributable to the renewable energy, energy efficiency or alternative fuels / vehicles industry in the most recently concluded fiscal year?

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* 18. Please indicate the three most important current needs for your company's North Carolina business.

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* 19. Non-financial business assistance is provided by state and federal government, local nonprofits and service businesses. Please indicate the three most important areas of assistance for your company's North Carolina business.

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* 20. Does your company use any North Carolina Community College resources (staff training, business incubation, small business center, etc.)?

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* 21. If you have not used North Carolina Community College resources, would you use them if they were designed to meet a specific need for your company?

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* 22. Please indicate the top three functions in your company that will most benefit from community college courses or seminars.

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* 23. What part of your supply chain would be enhanced if there were an improved regional availability of supply chain links specific to your company (such as raw material, components, skilled employees or other links)?

Question Title

* 24. What does your company or organization perceive as the primary barrier to the energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels / vehicles industry in North Carolina?

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* 25. If you know them, please indicate your company's primary 6 digit NAICS codes

* 4. If your company's primary North Carolina address differs from the response in Question 3, please include your company's primary North Carolina address.

Primary address refers to company’s location of the North Carolina-based management team.

* 7. If you responded “yes” to the previous question, please check the counties your company has a presence in, otherwise skip this question and proceed to the next question.

Presence means a satellite office, manufacturing facility, or county of residence for remote employees.

* 12. Please estimate your company's current total North Carolina employment.

Please estimate based on full-time equivalent staff time (for example, two employees working half-time equal one full-time equivalent).