On Tuesday (August 26) Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 23, establishing the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force to strengthen the state’s electricity infrastructure and energy affordability as demand increases. The task force will be co-chaired by Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and Representative Kyle Hall.
This Executive Order continues the state’s leadership in the clean energy economy. Governor Stein is charging the task force with determining how the state can remain steadfast in keeping utility costs affordable for North Carolinians, meeting its economic development and environmental protection goals, and managing increasing energy demand.
North Carolina is the third-fastest growing state in the country. With the state’s rapidly growing manufacturing footprint and the use of energy intensive data centers for artificial intelligence and other uses increasing, the need for electrical power is placing additional demand on the state’s energy grid. Such demand may lead to higher utility bills for families.
With growing demand in mind, North Carolina is working to meet its energy requirements while keeping electricity costs low for families. In the wake of state and federal policy changes, the task force will be committed to ensuring North Carolina continues to push forward on critical clean energy commitments that protect the our natural resources, the state’s economy, and people’s pocketbooks.
According to the news release, Governor Stein is committed to lowering energy costs for families, reducing North Carolina’s dependence on carbon, and expanding the state’s clean energy economy. The state’s commitment to clean energy has attracted companies from across the globe. Since taking office, Governor Stein has announced $4.9 billion in new investments and more than 15,000 new jobs from clean energy and clean technology companies, including JetZero’s announcement of the largest jobs commitment in state history at Piedmont Triad International Airport to manufacture high efficiency, low emissions aircraft.
