North Raleigh Today

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina has announced that the state will receive a grant of $1.677 million from the Siemens Foundation to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and charging industries. The administration of this grant will be entrusted to the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE).

"The EVeryone Charging Forward program was established in response to the rapid expansion of the EV charging industry, which has created a high demand for skilled workers across the field", said Governor Cooper on Governor NC. This initiative by the Siemens Foundation is aimed at expanding access to employment opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, while also contributing significantly towards decarbonization and strengthening of U.S. economy.

The foundation partners with recognized leaders in clean energy workforce development to launch this initiative. In collaboration with NCBCE, North Carolina will work along with other state partners in designing training programs specific for underserved communities. These programs would include pre-apprenticeships and state-registered apprenticeships for young adults specializing in EV charging installation and maintenance.

A report produced by NC Clean Tech mentioned that renewable energy, derived from sources like sunlight, wind, tides, biomass and geothermal heat continuously replenishes itself. These resources are converted into electricity and heat using technology. Diversifying our energy sources with renewables enhances energy security and keeps money within local communities rather than importing energy - providing economic benefits.

As per an annual report from E2, as featured in an article by The News and Observer, it is stated that North Carolina currently houses 105,000 clean energy jobs. American Clean Power reported $14 billion invested in utility-scale solar, storage and wind projects within the state, predicting an additional expected investment worth $15 billion by 2030. At the same time Toyota announced its increased investment of $13.9 billion in a Triad battery manufacturing plant set to employ approximately 5,000 workers.

However, Governor Cooper expressed concerns that this growth could face potential threats from education policy as well as social policies affecting abortion access and energy policies hindering efforts to update the state's energy efficiency codes for new homes.