2026

North Carolina Policy Forum

Balancing Growth, Reliability, and Affordability

E4 Carolinas is proud to present our 2026 North Carolina Energy Policy Forum, focusing on “Balancing Growth, Reliability, and Affordability”. The event will begin with networking and opening remarks, followed by a nuclear fireside chat. Our first panel will review the Carolinas’ energy future, highlighting strategies for managing regional growth, maintaining affordability for consumers, and advancing clean energy initiatives. Following this overview of the future, our next panel will feature a roundtable of North Carolina regulators and legislators examining state-level perspectives on regulatory priorities, legislative initiatives, and the alignment of policy with industry evolution. The forum will then move to “Made in North Carolina” to highlight progress in manufacturing and will conclude by broadening to a federal policy update.


2026

Agenda Overview

9:30 am - 10:00 am

Registration & Networking


10:00 am - 10:10 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks


10:00 am - 10:45 am

Nuclear Fireside Chat


10:45 am - 11:30 am

Carolinas’ Energy Future: Navigating Growth, Affordability & Emission Goals


11:30 am - 11:45 am

Networking Break


11:45 am - 12:30 pm

NC Regulators’ & Legislators’ Roundtable


12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch


1:30 pm - 2:15 pm

Made in North Carolina: What Energy Policy Means for Manufacturing 


2:15 pm - 2:45 pm

Federal Policy Update: What’s Coming for the Carolinas


2:45 pm - 3:00 pm

Closing Remarks

Meet the Speakers

Welcome & Opening Remarks

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Tina Taylor

Interim President

E4 Carolinas

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Diane Denton

Board Chair

E4 Carolinas

Nuclear Fireside Chat

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Jeffrey Merrifield

Emeritus Partner

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

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The Honorable Bradley Crowell

Commissioner

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Carolinas' Energy Future: Navigating Growth, Affordability,

& Emission Goals

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Weston Adams

Chair, Energy Group

Nelson Mullins

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Venu Ghanta

VP, Regulatory Affairs

Duke Energy

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Ray Fakhoury

Policy Manager, Energy

Amazon Web Services

Additional Speakers
TBA

North Carolina Regulators'

& Legislators' Roundtable

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George Baldwin

Principal

Baldwin Consulting

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Chris Ayers

Executive Director

NC Public Staff

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Kim Duffley

Sr. Director, Energy Policy

NARUC

Additional
Speakers
TBA

Made in North Carolina: What Energy Policy

Means for Manufacturing

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Jeffrey Merrifield

Emeritus Partner

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

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Brian Maragno

VP, Large Generator Projects

Siemens Energy

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Keith Oliver

Director, Project Development

U.S. Forged Rings

Additional Speakers
TBA

Federal Policy Update: What's Coming for the Carolinas

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Craig Saperstein

Partner

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP