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
Tina Taylor
Interim President
E4 Carolinas
Diane Denton
Board Chair
E4 Carolinas
Nuclear Fireside Chat
Jeffrey Merrifield
Emeritus Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
The Honorable Bradley Crowell
Commissioner
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Carolinas' Energy Future:Navigating Growth, Affordability,
& Emission Goals
Weston Adams
Chair, Energy Group
Nelson Mullins
Venu Ghanta
VP, Regulatory Affairs
Duke Energy
Ray Fakhoury
Policy Manager, Energy
Amazon Web Services
Additional Speakers
TBA
North CarolinaRegulators'
& Legislators' Roundtable
George Baldwin
Principal
Baldwin Consulting
Chris Ayers
Executive Director
NC Public Staff
Kim Duffley
Sr. Director, Energy Policy
NARUC
Additional
Speakers
TBA
Made in North Carolina:What Energy Policy
Means for Manufacturing
Jeffrey Merrifield
Emeritus Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Brian Maragno
VP, Large Generator Projects
Siemens Energy
Keith Oliver
Director, Project Development
U.S. Forged Rings
Additional Speakers
TBA
Federal Policy Update:What's Coming for the Carolinas