Newswise — More than 1,000 statewide, national and international policy-makers in business, government, nonprofits and higher education are gathering at North Carolina State University's 24th annual Institute for Emerging Issues' (IEI) Forum, North Carolina's Energy Futures: Realizing a State of Opportunity to learn how to take advantage of economic development opportunities for the state's energy future.
"North Carolina will be the seventh largest state within 25 years, and that population growth will bring energy challenges," says former Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr., chair, IEI. "We must prepare for our energy future now. The Emerging Issues Forum allows for North Carolina to be a leader in bringing together the best minds and political will to take on our energy challenges."
The New York Times' Tom Friedman talked about the need for leadership from a national and global perspective, helping attendees understand how those developments will affect the new energy economy in North Carolina. General Electric (GE) CEO Jeff Immelt informed attendees of GE's global commitment to developing technologies to clean the environment while promoting energy efficiency, and how that commitment is proving to be a successful business strategy.
"The new energy economy will create industries, companies, and jobs for the state," says Anita Brown-Graham, director, IEI. "The Institute for Emerging Issues Forum allows North Carolina's leaders and citizens to learn how to seize economic development opportunities presented by this new energy economy."
Duke Energy's Jim Rogers and Progress Energy's Bill Johnson explained how their companies are adapting to meet challenges and opportunities presented by the demand for cleaner energy, addressing likely changes in the electric industry and its implications for North Carolina citizens.
Nobel Prize winner and NC State alumnus Rajendra Pachauri talked about his work with the International Panel on Climate Change, sharing his views on why climate change might disrupt economic activity and social stability across the world and how North Carolina can be prepared.
All speakers' remarks available at www.emergingissues.org. Listen live on Tuesday, February 12 with Bank of America's Ken Lewis, Sustainable South Bronx's Majora Carter and a discussion about North Carolina's New Energy Economy with PPG's Vicki Holt, Megawatt Solar's Chris Clemons, Proximity Hotel's Dennis Quaintenance and Innova Homes' David Bennert.
About IEI and the ForumThe Forum is IEI's signature event for leaders from around the state, country and the world to discuss and debate solutions to the country's most pressing challenges. IEI is a think-and-do tank focused on tackling big issues that affect North Carolina's future growth and prosperity. From energy, to fiscal modernization, to improving our systems of higher education, IEI takes the lead in convening state leaders in business, higher education and government to address these issues early to prepare for future challenges and opportunities. To learn more about IEI, please visit http://www.emergingissues.org.
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