A sum of $14 million will be invested in solar thermal technology projects throughout North Carolina in 2009 post Vanir Energy's acquisition of Appalachian Solar Energy.

Vanir Energy will own and operate the solar thermal systems it installs, allowing its customers to "go solar" without making capital expenditures. 

"Our immediate focus will be to own and operate $14 million worth of solar installations in North Carolina," said Steve Hunter, COO, Vanir Energy.

The company shared that the first Vanir project will be a solar thermal installation at Fletcher Business Park, a 900,000-square-foot facility where the company is headquartered.

"With the Fletcher Business Park project, we're creating 58 jobs in less than 60 days," said executive vice president Scott Clark. 

As per the information available, the company has an ambitious $2.4 million project to install 640 solar panels atop the Fletcher Business Park by December. 31.

The project will be the largest installation of solar thermal heating and cooling technology, according to a database maintained by the International Energy Agency in Paris.