Governor Josh Stein addresses attendees at the 2026 State Energy Conference on April 28, 2026. (Photo; Clayton Henkel/ NC Newsline)
Governor Josh Stein told energy industry representatives on Tuesday that in a world demanding more power and affordable energy, developing more renewable options will continue to be the fastest and cheapest way to meet the rapidly increasing need.
“In North Carolina, there are 338 companies that are on the Forbes Global 2000 list that have set net-zero emissions targets,” said Stein. “These companies collectively employ more than 450,000 people across all 100 counties and across sectors.”
But the governor says as companies and consumers embrace the benefits of clean energy, the state must be clear-eyed about the challenging headwinds at the national level.
“The hostility of the federal government toward clean energy policy has created grave uncertainty,” the governor said.
Stein pointed to the recent decision by the Trump administration to spend nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money to pay off a French company to stop it from creating wind power off the North Carolina coast.
President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of offshore wind for years. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called the offshore wind project “expensive, unreliable, and environmentally disruptive.”
The Carolina Long Bay project, located approximately 22 miles south of Bald Head Island, would’ve generated more than one gigawatt of power from the nautical wind farm — enough energy to power about 300,000 homes.
Stein called the project’s cancellation “mind-bogglingly senseless.” He said “regression” is happening at the state level as well.
NC environmentalists lament decision to scrap offshore wind farm
For example, Stein said, the Republican-led legislature overrode his veto of Senate Bill 266 (“The Power Bill Reduction Act”) last session, despite expert analysis that the bill was projected to lead to a $23 billion increase in fuel costs through 2050.
That bill also shifted more of the cost burden for fuel from industrial users to residential consumers.
More recently, the Utilities Commission used SB 266 to pause procurement of 770 megawatts of solar power – enough to power approximately 100,000 homes — until regulators complete their review of Duke Energy’s updated Carbon Plan.
The governor reiterated his opposition to Duke Energy’s recent proposed rate increase, which Stein said would place an additional burden on customers as the company retreats on clean energy.
“My administration has been clear that North Carolina needs an energy system that protects consumers, reduces climate and air pollution, and supports economic growth,” said Stein.
Large loads, data centers, and the little guy
For others at the annual State of Energy Conference, the focus was on how North Carolina will be able to meet growing energy demands.
Recent forecasts by Duke Energy predict that total demand for electricity across its two Carolina systems is projected to increase from 16% to as much as 60% through 2040. Over the last 20 years, electricity demand in all of North Carolina rose just 7%.
N.C. Chamber Vice President Meredith Archie said for her members, that means embracing an “all of the above” strategy to ensure energy needs are met.
“That means all of the things — resources like natural gas, it means that we continue to expand solar and other clean energy resources. Battery storage is going to be critical for that intermittency. And critically, continue to invest in our existing nuclear fleet but also the next generation of nuclear for that large-load base energy that we need.”
Senator Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) (right) said policymakers must keep in mind low- and moderate-income North Carolinians who struggle to pay their energy bills. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)Data centers are among those large-load energy consumers that municipalities are now having to grapple with. More and more local governments are passing moratoriums to block large data centers until they can set up a legal framework for zoning and permitting.
John Szoka, CEO of the Conservative Energy Network and a former N.C. House member, said it’s a bad idea to allow local elected officials to ban these centers.
“It’s the exact wrong way to go on this,” said Szoka. “I mean, what if we had moratoriums on nuclear power plants?”
Szoka says data centers are a complex issue that towns or counties should not be quick to bar, especially for an industry they may not fully understand.
“Every time you pick up your phone and do a Google search, [you’re] using a data center,” Szoka told the audience.
Szoka said one thing he learned after serving ten years in the legislature is that some lawmakers may base decisions on what they see on social media.
“Which is why I’m in the position I’m in now, trying to educate decision-makers at all levels,” said Szoka.
Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) said the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force is moving forward with recommendations, but most consumers don’t want to hear about grid flexibility, interconnection, rate schedules or agency acronyms like FERC.
“People don’t care about rates, they care about their bill. If we’re not keeping that person in the forefront of our minds as we make all of these decisions, I think we’re missing the point,” said Mayfield.
Hence then, the article about stein as power demand rises north carolina must confront policy hostility toward clean energy was published today ( ) and is available on NC news line ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Stein: As power demand rises, North Carolina must confront ‘policy hostility’ toward clean energy )
Also on site :
- Hackers Pose as Microsoft Support to Breach Corporate Defenses .. PYMNTS.com
- BMG to Buy Concord in Major Indie Music Merger
- Why Shashank Singh is not playing today's match vs RR in IPL 2026?