Two members of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet toured a solar energy project in Cary today to tout the expansion of the renewable energy industry.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the project at SAS Institute headquarters in Cary. There, Southern Energy Management of Morrisville has planted one of the Southeast’s largest solar farms.

Southern Energy Management was the primary contractor for SunPower on two 1-megawatt solar arrays at SAS, according to the Department of the Interior. The project includes a 24-collector solar water heating system and a 1-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system of 5,040 solar panels on five acres of land.

Salazar called the firm one of hundreds of cutting-edge renewable energy companies sprouting up around the country, his department said.

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CARY — Standing in front of solar farm, Gov. Beverly Perdue this morning announced an energy program designed to both make North Carolina more energy efficient and also create more jobs connected to the so-called green economy.

The governor proposed investing more public money in private alternate energy start-up companies, elevate state energy policies, and also make state government more energy efficient, Rob Christensen reports.

"Developing our green economy is one of the cornerstones of why I wanted to be governor," Perdue said.

Perdue said the proposals were part of her campaign promise in 2008, in which she said she would work to produce more jobs in North Carolina for projects such as weatherizing homes and businesses, and making the equipment needed for alternative energy forms such as solar power.

After the jump, her proposals.

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Gov. Beverly Perdue will announce an energy reform package.

She will announce a package to refocus state energy policymaking and make strategic investments in environmentally friendly industries at the SAS solar farm in Cary at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow. 

Perdue will be joined by Ivan Urlaub, executive director of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association; John Sall, co-founder of SAS; and other business and environmental leaders.