Charlotte airport wants its place in the sun.

• Author: Charlotte
• Position: REG IONALREPORT

Things have been cloudy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport lately, with state and city officials fighting over its control (cover story, September 2013). That's not preventing Charlotte leaders from preparing for sunnier times. In November, the city unveiled plans that could make the airport one of the largest sites of solar-power generation in the state. A private developer would lease parts of the airport from the city and build solar arrays at designated sites, such as between runways and on rooftops and canopies constructed over parking lots. Robert Phocas, the city's Energy and Sustainability Manager, told the Charlotte Observer that the airport might use some of the power, but most of it will be sold to Queen City-based Duke Energy Corp. Charlotte, which would have an option to buy the farm on the sixth, 10th and 15th anniversaries of the lease agreement, has outlined as many as eight sites that could be developed for a maximum output of 53...