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East Coast Wind Power
Winterville and Powells Point, NC
ECWP's products are not only good for the environment, but also an asset to the area's farmers who could convert acres of farmland to energy-producing wind farms.
East Coast Wind Power sells and installs small wind turbines
and solar panel systems. Owned by Dean Carrico, known as
the “ambassador of alternative energy before it was popular,”
and his former classmates, Albert and Richard Holloman,
the business’ long-term goal is to develop and build energy
solutions entities including large utility scale solar and wind
farms. The trio researched the wind turbine industry and
realized eastern NC was a great location. At the time, they also
considered bringing their separate businesses under one entity.
Eleven years ago, Dean created DRC Development, a company that researches the energy industry and assists with the creation of residential and commercial wind turbine ordinances. In 2007, Dean helped create a wind ordinance in Currituck County, which has been a model for other counties. DRC and ECWP were a good match.
The partners sought funding, but lenders and investors wanted to see a detailed business plan. They went to the Elizabeth City State University SBTDC where they met business counselor Michael Twiddy. He worked with them to develop a business plan and analyze the best ways to combine their entities. SBTDC counselors and ECSU Center for Green Research and Evaluation leaders scheduled a strategic planning retreat to pull ECWP and DRC together. With their assistance, the entrepreneurs received a Green Business Fund grant that afforded them the opportunity to have a strategic planning session facilitated by the SBTDC’s Strategy and Organization Development team.
The business partners are now well on their way to becoming one entity with assistance from many of the SBTDC’s services including Marketing and Research Services, who helped them research their market and potential new names for the umbrella entity.
ECWP also worked with the SBTDC’s PTAC program to find state, local and federal projects that may help acquire more funding. To date, the company has sold and installed solar systems and wind turbines in North Carolina and Virginia.
ECSU’s Center for Green Research and Evaluation leaders feel that increased interest in solar and wind power will create jobs and training opportunities in the area. “It will help realize our place in the new economy,” says Sharon Campbell, ECSU CGRE Managing Director. ECWP’s products are not only good for the environment, but also an asset to the area’s farmers who could convert acres of farmland to energy-producing wind farms.
Story originally featured in the SBTDC's 2009-2010 Annual Report.