NORTH CAROLINA'S ENERGY EDGE: Experts discuss recent changes and future advances in the state's energy industry.

• Position: ENERGY ROUND TABLE

The round table was hosted and sponsored by N.C. State University and N.C. State University Continuing Education. Additional sponsors were Electricities of N.C. and Sunbelt Rentals. The transcript was edited for brevity and clarity.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT GOV. COOPER'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IS EXPECTED BY HIS ADMINISTRATION?

HODGE The governor issued Executive Order 80 on Oct. 29, 2018, and our office has been turned upside down ever since. We are the State Energy Office, we are a totally federally funded agency, and all of our Department of Energy program managers are calling every week. They're so excited about this clean-energy future that we're looking at in North Carolina, and they're wanting to know how they can help us, what are some of the best practices that they can share with other states and how North Carolina can be a leader.

The four main goals are, first, a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, based on 2005 levels. Second, we'd like to have 80,000 registered zero-emissions vehicles in the state of North Carolina. Currently, there are between 8,000 and 9,000, so we're working with the Department of Transportation on a plan for how we get those ZEVs. Third, a 40% reduction in energy intensity usage in state agencies by 2025, based on 2002-03 levels.

The fourth thing is the Clean Energy Plan. We want everyone across the state to be involved in developing this plan. We have several methods in which we have been going about this. First of all, we have facilitated workshops. There are six of those scheduled, four of them have already taken place, and we have two more that are occurring right here in North Carolina.

We're very fortunate that we have the Regulatory Assistance Project and the Rocky Mountain Institute helping us facilitate and coordinate those efforts here in Raleigh, but you have to submit a letter to us saying that you want to participate. The listening sessions are across the state and anyone can come. We've been at the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center at UNC Charlotte, where we held the first listening session. We've been to Asheville, Greensboro, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville and Wilmington. At some of those events, we've had up to 100 to 150 attendees. Those that attended were very informed and wanted to make sure that their input was incorporated into this Clean Energy Plan. We also tagged along with other energy events across the state of North Carolina. One of the most recent was the Sustainable Energy Conference at N.C. State, where our director, Sushma Masemore, gave a presentation about the Clean Energy Plan, and we were able to get some feedback that we will incorporate into the plan. We also have online input for those who can't make it to the sessions, so they can just send comments to us by email on our website.

HOW ARE UNC CHARLOTTE AND N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY RESPONDING TO THE VERY RAPID CHANGE IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND THE NEED FOR TALENT?

KOPITOPOULOU Obviously, the change is coming whether we like it or not. We have noticed...