North Carolina’s Clean Energy Employment Surge
North Carolina is rapidly becoming a hub for clean energy investment, with significant developments in battery and solar manufacturing, energy-efficiency projects, and grid enhancements. This surge in investment has propelled the state’s clean energy job market to grow by 13.8% since the pandemic, according to a recent report by the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.
Ryan Evans, the executive director of the group, highlighted the shift in the state’s clean energy landscape. Originally, it was solar energy generation that positioned North Carolina among the top ten states for clean energy jobs. However, the focus has now shifted towards clean-tech manufacturing, which is playing a crucial role in maintaining this status.
Evans noted the importance of the state’s capacity to meet the electricity demands of large industrial users, which has become a significant factor in attracting new business. “We’re seeing a demand for companies to say, ‘OK, who can get me the power that I need for this particular manufacturing center that we want to develop?’” Evans explained.
The report suggests that manufacturing is poised to overtake renewable energy generation as the state’s second-largest employer in the clean energy sector, with energy efficiency remaining the leader.
