The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has kicked off the new Energy Insights Webinar Series – part of an initiative to promote Center-wide services that contribute to the advancement of a sustainable energy economy.

NCCETC’s Policy & Markets team, who also manage the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), hosted the first webinar of the series on January 15, 2026. In the “Solar and Wind and Gas, Oh My!” webinar, the team provided a deep dive into utility integrated resource plans (IRPs) and discussed the changing capacity needs that utilities have faced, along with what may be in store for the coming year.

IRPs outline a long-term strategy to ensure utilities are in compliance with state energy goals. They include trends and preferences, load growth predictions, and expectations for load mitigation or reduction. The IRP process involves load forecasting, scenario identification, modeling, cost calculations, and portfolio evaluation.

51 IRPs were decided or pending in 2025, with 428, 289 MW considered capacity additions, and 85,560 MW considered capacity retirements. Technology additions included solar, storage, natural gas, wind, and nuclear energy. Retirements were coal, natural gas, and coal-to-natural gas.

As of January 26, 2026, 35 states have established formal requirements for utilities to file IRPs.

During this webinar, the Policy & Markets team also announced the new Power Decarbonization & IRP Data Sheet, which includes:

• Generation Ownership
• Emission Reduction Targets
• Current Utility IRPs
• Large Load Tariffs
• Clean Energy Targets
• IRP Rules
• CWIP Policies
• Studies

The biannual data set can be purchased through DSIRE Insight, the policy research & analysis service that expands upon the DSIRE database. Learn more about the new data sheet and other relevant publications at https://www.dsireinsight.com/publications.

Watch the Solar and Wind and Gas, Oh My! webinar recording →

The next Energy Insights Webinar will be held on March 5, 2026, led by NCCETC’s Clean Power & Industrial Efficiency (CPIE) team. This “Continuous Onsite Generation for Data Centers” webinar is hosted alongside the DOE Southeast Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) and will be informative for end users, utilities and policymakers looking for ways to navigate in these fast times.

Attendees will hear insights on the following questions:

• Why is onsite energy generation relevant to data centers?
• What are the benefits of onsite energy for data centers and the utility grid?
• How can partnerships bring about more onsite energy at data centers?
• What can states do to support onsite energy for data centers?

Featured speakers from Spectrum Engineers, Joule Power, the DOE Southeast Onsite Energy TAP, and NCCETC will explore how onsite energy increases efficiency and resiliency for data centers, in addition to lowering costs.

Speakers include:

• Vinnie Figlioli, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Spectrum Engineers
• David Gray, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Joule Power
• Isaac Panzarella, Associate Director – Technical Services at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center and Director of the DOE Southeast Onsite Energy TAP
• Justin Lindemann, Senior Policy Analyst, NC Clean Energy Technology Center

Register here to attend the upcoming webinar →

NCCETC’s subject matter experts can also provide individuals, organizations, and government entities with custom insights and comprehensive solutions. To learn more about the Center’s energy services, click here, and get in touch by completing this brief form.