North Carolina is home to the largest electric power holding company in the U.S.—along with lots of industry research centers, which is why we can provide such a large, educated and diverse energy industry workforce.
Meet some of the diverse energy sector businesses thriving in North Carolina:
North Carolina has the power to keep businesses humming right along.
Our state is brimming with energy—from its nuclear plants and advancements in renewables to our residents themselves. A number of factors contribute to the strength and diversity of North Carolina’s energy portfolio. Here are just a few of them:
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- The lowest corporate income tax rate in the U.S.
- 2.5% corporate tax rate
- NC is ranked No. 1 for lowest state and local tax burden in the United States by Ernst & Young and the Council on State Taxation
- A concentrated, diversified and growing industry
- Since 2010, NC gleaned several top-five rankings, including:
- No. 2 in growth in turbine manufacturing
- No. 3 in fossil fuel power generation
- No. 5 in semiconductor and related device manufacturing
- Since 2010, NC gleaned several top-five rankings, including:
- The highest concentration of Tier 1 research universities
- Three within 25 miles of one another:
- Duke University
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- North Carolina State University
- All three contribute to local businesses by:
- Feeding the workforce pipeline
- Creating and maintaining industry partnerships
- Fueling an innovative business environment
- Three within 25 miles of one another:
- Large, diverse and growing energy workforce
- 39,000+ energy and energy-efficiency workers, doing everything from manufacturing and distribution to energy-efficiency equipment
- Industry growth of 9.3%, or 3,300 jobs, in NC since 2010
- NC is the fastest-growing energy cluster in the Southeast
- Specialized degree and training programs
- Local universities and community colleges offer a variety of programs and facilities, including:
- N.C. State University—Nuclear Energy Program
- N.C. Central University—PHD in Energy & Environmental Systems
- UNC Charlotte—Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC)
- Central Piedmont Community College—Center for Energy Training
- Local universities and community colleges offer a variety of programs and facilities, including:
- Customized training programs
- NCWorks, the state’s comprehensive workforce development platform, offers customizable training for new and existing businesses in the state
- RTI International
- World-renowned research institute comprised of 3,700+ staff members
- Produces energy research as it relates to economics, public policy and finance
- Energy-related R&D on biomass and biofuels, syngas processing, as well as carbon capture and utilization
- PowerAmerica Institute
- $140 million advanced manufacturing institute that brings together academic, government and industry partners
- Initiated in 2015 at N.C. State University at the behest of President Obama and the U.S. Department of Energy
- Focused on revolutionizing energy efficiency for wide-ranging applications, such as electronic devices, electric vehicles and power grids
- Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management Systems Center
- FREEDM Systems Center provides research and development to modernize the power grid by optimizing smart-grid technology
- NC State-led effort with U.S. universities working with industry partners
- A National Science Foundation Energy Research Center developed as a model for the new clean energy institute
- North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
- Advances a sustainable energy economy through education, demonstration and support of clean energy technologies, practices and policies
- Administered by the College of Engineering at N.C. State University
- NC Sustainable Energy Association
- NCSEA is a non-profit organization supporting public policy and market development as it relates to clean energy jobs, economic opportunity and affordable energy for the state
- Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster
- RTCC brings together leaders in business, government, academia and the non-profit sectors for the purpose of advocating for cleantech growth in the region
- Promotes the Research Triangle Region’s leadership in research, innovation and growth in the cleantech sector
- E4 Carolinas
- A trade association for the Carolinas promoting industry support, education, policy and accelerating economic development and growth for the energy cluster