The Institute for Emerging Issues

Connecting North Carolina to ideas and North Carolinians to each other.

2025 Emerging Issues Forum:
Future Forward Energy

By 2050, North Carolina’s population is expected to grow to 14 million, driving unprecedented demands on North Carolina’s energy infrastructure. The 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy will bring together policymakers, industry experts and community leaders to examine these demands, focusing on resiliency, affordability and workforce development. The forum will take place on February 19, 2025, at the NC State University McKimmon Center.

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Graphic including a photo of a white man wearing a white button up shirt. To the right of the photo is a blue box with the text "Staff Blog. Meeting our Energy Needs with Disruptive Technologies. Pat Cronin, Assistant Director."

Meeting our Energy Needs with Disruptive Technologies

IEI Assistant Director Pat Cronin reflects on his time at the RTI Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy roadshow and the connections made between disruptive technologies and the energy needs facing North Carolina.

Agenda Announced for the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum

IEI is pleased to announce that Duke Energy President Harry Sideris and IBM Global Leader for Responsible AI Phaedra Boinodiris will be among the many speakers at the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Energy.

Headshots of IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods, NC State Demographer Dr. Michael Cline and EDPNC Research Director Alyssa Brown Moseley; text reads “The Connector, Population, Industry and Energy: The Future of NC, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”.

Population, Industry and Energy: The Future of North Carolina

In the season two premiere of The Connector, IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods sits down with North Carolina State Demographer Dr. Mike Cline and EDPNC Research Director Alyssa Brown Moseley to explore the demographic trends shaping North Carolina and their influence on the state’s energy landscape.

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About IEI

Established in 2002 at NC State University, the Institute for Emerging Issues is a nonpartisan, public policy organization that connects individuals and businesses across sectors, regions and perspectives to address emerging issues in the state. Through this collaboration, IEI is connecting North Carolinians to build consensus and move to action; inspiring and preparing citizens and leaders to meet future challenges head-on.

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Financial Resilience Community Cohort Announced

IEI is excited to announce the five regional teams that will make up the Financial Resilience community cohort. The cohort met for the first time on June 26 at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

Mac Sims (center), President of East Greensboro Now, discusses how Guilford County must be able to adapt to the continued growth and economic desirability of the region.

Clean Energy, AI and Growth: Guilford County Workforce Leaders Hold Action Meeting on Jobs of the Future

Guilford County’s continued growth and workforce opportunities was the central theme at the “Jobs of the Future: Guilford County Workforce Action Meeting” that took place on March 20 in High Point.

Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) Is Building A Talent Pipeline For Years to Come

Since 2016, the Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP) program has provided approximately 100 Guilford County high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to “earn and learn” by gaining paid work experience while receiving their associates degree on full scholarship.

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