By: Dawn Haworth, Public Communications Specialist

Last month, the annual State Energy Conference of North Carolina brought over 800 energy industry professionals together to take part in transformative energy discussions at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC.

Pictured: North Carolina Governor Joshua Stein (top left); opening remarks from Executive Director Steve Kalland (top right); Keynote Plenary, “Energy addition, not subtraction: How do different technologies fit in NC’s Energy Future?” (bottom left); Appalachian State University student presentation (bottom right).

On Tuesday, April 29, NCCETC Executive Director, Steve Kalland, kicked off the conference with opening remarks. Kalland discussed the changing energy landscape in North Carolina, and how important it is for energy professionals to continue collaborating with each other to work to find solutions to energy challenges now and in the future. Following his remarks, four students from Appalachian State University’s BuildingsNEXT team showcased an industry pitch about a sustainable building design that was awarded an Honorable Mention by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). North Carolina Governor, Joshua Stein, then took the stage and was welcomed with a standing ovation from attendees. Governor Stein noted North Carolina’s accomplishments when it comes to energy, saying the state “saw a drop in the cost of electricity, which occurred even as the population and economy grew, and new jobs were being created.” Next, the morning keynote plenary took the stage to discuss how different technologies fit in North Carolina’s Energy Future. The plenary was moderated by Carrie Grundmann, Attorney at Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, and featured:

• Nicole Miller, Associate Director at Cypress Creek Renewables
• PJ Klein, Division Energy Manager and Business Continuity Program Manager at Corning Incorporated
• David McGowan, Southeast Region Director at the American Petroleum Institute
• Jack Jirak, Deputy General Counsel at Duke Energy
• Jeff Thomas, Engineering Manager – Public Staff at the North Carolina Utilities Commission

Pictured: Attendees engage with exhibitors in the exhibit hall. 

During all conference breaks and the evening reception, the sold out exhibit hall was busy with attendees networking with each other and also with exhibitors that were showcasing services, products, job opportunities and more. Networking opportunities at the conference are always touted as the top highlight of this event!  

Attendees then had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions across six tracks: Residential Homes, Clean Transportation, Commercial & Multi-Family Buildings, Governmental & Institutional Buildings, Renewable Energy, Utilities & Infrastructure, and Innovative Technology & Deployment. After the breakout sessions, attendees gathered in the main ballroom to hear from expert speakers during the luncheon keynote. 

Pictured: Luncheon Keynote, “Balancing Affordability and Load Growth: Perspectives on Load Growth and Rates – The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast”

Tuesday afternoon’s luncheon keynote featured a special live edition of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association’s (NCSEA) Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast. NCSEA’s Executive Director, Matt Abele moderated the plenary session, which included:

• Bill Malcolm, Government Affairs Director at AARP
• Lon Huber, Senior Vice President, Pricing and Customer Solutions at Duke Energy Corporation
• Lakin Garth, Senior Director, Grid Strategy, at the Smart Electric Power Alliance
• Matthew Winslow, Representative, NC General Assembly
• Jeremy Keltner, Project Manager – Industrial Symbiosis at Novo Nordisk
• Eric Anderson, Program Manager for Power Production, Utilities, and Government Banking at Pinnacle Financial Partners

Pictured: Utilities & Infrastructure Breakout Session: “Rebuilding the Grid for Resilience”

Additional breakout sessions commenced after the luncheon keynote, allowing attendees to learn more about best practices for resilience, state policy changes, utility innovation, and more.

Pictured: Residential Homes Breakout Session – “The State of State Incentives”

Pictured: Exhibitors and attendees network at the Tuesday evening reception.

The second day of the conference began on Wednesday, April 30, with the keynote plenary, “The View from Washington: What the New Federal Paradigm Means for Energy in North Carolina.” Chris Frey, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure for North Carolina State University’s College of Engineering, and Julie Woosley, Director of the North Carolina State Energy Office, introduced the panel. Speakers were moderated by Betsy McCorkle, Managing Partner at Kairos Government Affairs, and included:

• Rob Jennings, Vice President for Natural Gas Markets at the American Petroleum Institute
• Sarah Vilms, Vice President at the Solar Energy Industries Association
• Joe DeCarolis, NC State University Professor and former Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Daniel Bresette, President of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Pictured: Chris Frey (left) and Julie Woosley (right) give remarks and introductions on Wednesday morning.

Pictured: Morning Keynote – “The View from Washington: What the New Federal Paradigm Means for Energy in North Carolina”

Additional breakout sessions were conducted following the morning keynote plenary. Topics included progress in community solar, grid flexibility, and clean transportation policies.

Pictured: Renewable Energy Breakout Session – “Community Solar: Examining Progress in North Carolina and Other States”

Wednesday afternoon’s luncheon keynote was moderated by Hal Corin, Head of Development at Viridi, and featured speakers:

• Jennifer Weiss, Co-Director at the NC Clean Energy Fund
• Marc Marano, Managing Director at Canaccord Genuity
• Michael Walton, Partner and Managing Director at Energy Transition Finance
• Matthew Young, Strategic Industry and Portfolio Director at ABB
• Eric Anderson, Program Manager for Power Production, Utilities, and Government Banking at Pinnacle Financial Partners

The panel discussed how investment in clean energy may change due to changing policies and standards.

Pictured: Luncheon Keynote – “The Future of Energy and Investment in a Time of Uncertainty”

After the plenary session, individuals had the opportunity to attend one final breakout session. The Wednesday afternoon sessions included topics about durable transportation, strategic planning, the future of clean energy economic development, and energy storage.

Save the date! The 2026 State Energy Conference of North Carolina will be held April 28-29, 2026. Visit ncenergyconference.com in the coming months for more information. Interested in sponsoring the 2026 event? Contact Shannon Helm at slhelm@ncsu.edu.