2025 Emerging Issues Forum
Feb. 19, 2025
Raleigh, NC
The first part of the 2025-2027 Emerging Issues Forum series on North Carolina’s future-forward infrastructure will focus on the state’s energy landscape.
The Challenge
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects global energy demand will increase by as much as three-quarters by 2050. According to Duke Energy, electricity demand in North Carolina is growing at the fastest rate seen in 30 years. Expected load growth by 2030 is now eight times higher than the expectations set in 2022’s North Carolina Carbon Plan, driven by an influx of energy-intensive businesses. Their unexpected demand comes on top of projected increases tied to population growth.
At the same time that demand is growing rapidly, North Carolina’s current electric grid is aging. Meeting the needs of our growing population and evolving economy will require rapid capacity expansion and diverse sources of electricity. These investments–taking place in communities across the state–are already increasing energy costs for consumers. At the same time, extreme weather events, most recently Hurricane Helene, are adding to the cost burden by doing tens of millions of dollars in damage to the existing grid.
The Opportunity
The 2025 Emerging Issues Forum will bring together policy makers, industry experts and community leaders to examine policies and practices to meet these challenges and take advantage of the economic development opportunities in the changing energy landscape. Particular attention will be given to how best to fulfill our energy workforce needs, tackle the challenge of household energy affordability, address community concerns about energy infrastructure upgrades and boost the grid’s reliability and resiliency in the face of extreme weather.
Event Details
February 19, 2025
McKimmon Conference and Training Center
NC State University
1101 Gorman Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
Sponsor the Forum
Sponsors make the Emerging Issues Forum possible.
