Bringing the Pro-Clean Energy Business Voice to Life in North Carolina
If I had to choose just one moment when the power of E2’s work becomes crystal clear, it’s this: the look on the face of a policymaker when a full delegation of business leaders enters their office to deliver the economic case for climate and clean energy policies.
The mountain of evidence that climate solutions are an economic boon — not only for cleantech companies but for all businesses and households — grows taller by the day. Still, there are many policymakers who could use education on the connection between smart clean energy policies and the enormous economy-wide benefits and jobs they generate, as well as the growing economic risks of inaction.
And even for policymakers who fully appreciate the link, speaking with likeminded business leaders solidifies that connection and arms them with additional data, stories, and perspectives to advance policy solutions in their sphere of influence.
That’s why the E2 Southeast team organized our first-ever Advocacy Day in North Carolina last month, leading a diverse delegation of 18 business leaders to Raleigh for a full day of meetings with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Those business leaders represented industries across the economy, both inside and outside the clean energy ecosystem: energy efficiency, solar and wind power, and EV charging, but also accounting, finance, and consulting. And over the course of 25 private meetings with Senators and Representatives from across the state and from both political parties, those cross-industry business leaders educated legislators on NC’s growing clean energy economy and advocated for policies to expand renewable generation, reform NC’s electricity market, increase access to zero-emission vans and trucks, and modernize our buildings.
Just a few weeks after the fact, those conversations between E2’s business leaders and North Carolina policymakers continue to bear fruit, with productive discussions ongoing as E2 works to push our policy priorities forward as the legislative session proceeds.
The most powerful part of the Advocacy Day, though: watching business leaders from across our state and across our economy join together and deliver a unified message on the economic opportunities of clean energy policies.
Thanks to these respected business voices, you could see the message break through all the noise and divisive politics: smart policies can be good for the environment and good for the economy. E2 will continue to serve as a bridge between the business community and our state policymakers to make sure North Carolina seizes this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity to take a leadership role in the transition to a clean energy future.
