A Day of Leadership, Growth, and Clean Energy Wins in North Carolina
On December 8th, we welcomed business leaders, lawmakers, economic developers, and industry partners to Greensboro for the 11th annual North Carolina Clean Energy Champions luncheon, co-hosted by Conservatives for Clean Energy (CCE) and Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy (CICE).
This annual event celebrates the people and organizations driving free-market energy solutions and private-sector investment across our state. North Carolina is once again at the forefront of clean energy growth, with $23 billion in announced projects this year alone, many in rural counties.
Award Recipients:
– Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. – For its strong policy leadership and economic development efforts, including the recruitment of Toyota Tsusho America
– Pitt County Economic Development – For advancing Boviet Solar’s new 3.0 GW solar factory and over 1,300 jobs
– Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Stokes, Forsyth) – Energy Innovation Champion Award
– Rep. Wyatt Gable (R-Onslow) – Energy Innovation Rising Star Award
– Ken & Johna Gurganus, Martin County farmers – For their tireless advocacy defending property rights for solar landowners
Special Recognition: Senator Thom Tillis
We were honored to welcome U.S. Senator Thom Tillis as our keynote speaker. Senator Tillis has been a consistent, principled voice for market-based clean energy since his days in the NC House.
In recognition of his two decades of service and unwavering support for smart energy policy, we presented him with the Legacy of Clean Energy Leadership Award.
“If policymakers don’t hear from clean energy businesses and customers, they’ll never pass the kind of reforms that unlock investment and job growth,” Tillis said.
Read more in this op-ed highlighting his remarks:
Tillis: “We Need More Certainty for Clean Energy”
We want to thank Google and Schneider Electric for participating in our panel and providing in-depth analysis on the energy market and interconnection needs of our state and country.
We’ll be posting more photos and highlights on social media, follow us and help amplify the momentum using #NCEnergyChamps.
As 2025 comes to a close, thank you for standing with us to support reliable, affordable, American-made energy. We look forward to continuing the work in 2026.
Onward,
Thomas Shumaker