Business, Farmers, and Lawmakers Unite on North Carolina's Clean Energy Future
Business leaders and policymakers gathered in Greensboro on a snowy day December 8 to celebrate a surge in North Carolina clean energy investments and the companies and officials making it happen.
Hosted by Conservatives for Clean Energy North Carolina (CCE) and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), the 11th annual North Carolina Clean Energy Champion Awards underscored North Carolina's standing as an emerging clean energy powerhouse. The luncheon was sponsored by Google.
At the end of 2024, the state had 113,052 clean energy jobs with more than 3,200 new positions created last year. This growth outpaced the rest of North Carolina's economy by six times.
While North Carolina celebrates record clean energy growth, the national picture is more complicated. In the first half of 2025, businesses canceled $22 billion in clean energy projects nationwide, potentially affecting over 16,500 jobs. Despite this uncertainty, more than 3.5 million Americans worked in clean energy at year's end, with 100,000 jobs added in 2024.
A key discussion theme was North Carolina's urgent need to address grid infrastructure and permitting challenges. Industry experts highlighted the importance of grid modernization, transmission enhancements, and streamlined permitting for solar and wind projects, which remain the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy energy sources.
“Clean energy is a powerful driver of economic development, creating a domestic manufacturing renaissance and building a new American workforce," said Susan Munroe, Director of National Engagement, CICE.
Award Winners and Recognition
The Legacy of Clean Energy Leadership award went to keynote speaker Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) for his commitment to advancing clean energy projects that provide well-paying jobs and support North Carolina’s economy.
Reflecting on his experience at a condo association meeting where rooftop solar was proposed solely because "it's the right thing to do," Senator Tillis argued that clean energy policies should prioritize business cases with strong economic returns.
"When you have the opportunity for the head and the heart to come together and produce policy that's both compelling fiscally and compelling socially, why wouldn't you do it? Should be a no-brainer," Tillis said.
Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. received the NC Clean Energy Champion Award for its advocacy supporting consistent energy policy and its role in attracting investments like Toyota Tsusho America. The organization partnered with regional leaders to position Winston-Salem as a hub for battery manufacturing and automotive sector growth.
“People are starting to see [clean energy] as a job creation vehicle. We cannot expect others to lead, we have to lead ourselves. America’s done a great job at that,” said Calvin McRae, vice president of policy, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.
Pitt County Economic Development was honored for its behind-the-scenes work supporting Boviet Solar's 3.0 GW solar cell factory in Greenville. The project is expected to create more than 1,300 jobs and establish the region as a center for American-made clean energy manufacturing. The organization also championed permitting reforms and clean energy policy advocacy in Washington, D.C.
“The private sector will lead the way, and this is really due to the wonderful investment in our community and in our people that Boviet Solar made just a little over a year ago,” said Kelly Andrews, director of economic development with Pitt County Economic Development. “We appreciate the support from CICE, from everyone in this room, from our legislators at the federal, state and local level, and especially Boviet Solar for leading the way for us.”
Ken and Johna Gurganus, Martin County farmers, received recognition for their advocacy defending private property rights and farmers' ability to lease land for solar projects. Their engagement with legislators successfully opposed House Bill 729, which would have increased property tax rates on solar projects by 500%. Their efforts exemplify the power of advocacy on energy policy.
"Solar allowed us to double the income on our farm without ever adding an acre," said Ken Gurganus during his acceptance remarks.
The event also honored legislators advancing clean energy innovation. NC Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Stokes) received the Energy Innovation Champion Award, while Rep. Wyatt Gable (R-Onslow) was named Energy Innovation Rising Star. The two legislators were honored for introducing House Bill 814, the Power Infrastructure Resiliency & Efficiency Act, earlier this year. Its goal is to promote the deployment of advanced conductors and hardware or software technologies that will enhance the performance and improve the efficiency of our grid and transmission system.
Panel Discussion: Speed and New Generation Needed to Meet Demand
The "Rapid Fire" panel discussion, “Innovative Policy Opportunities to Meet the Moment – and Demand,” brought together Rachel Wilson from Google and Fabrice Meunier from Schneider Electric to address North Carolina's critical energy challenges. Wilson highlighted the importance of modernizing energy procurement, noting that "access to energy, speed to power, or speed to capacity as we refer to it, is going to be critical to allow for growth in any state."
Both speakers emphasized the need for regulatory certainty and innovative solutions like grid-enhancing technologies and renewable energy.
“We need every energy source we can generate to power our economy and to ensure the security of our country. Without independence of energy, we cannot move forward," Meunier said.
The speakers advocated for streamlined permitting processes, grid digitization, energy efficiency improvements, and a collaborative approach between government, utilities, and the private sector to address the state's rapidly growing power demands.