• On Monday, June 26, 2023, Secretary Granholm will travel to Charlotte and Kings Mountain, North Carolina making stops that highlight efforts to modernize the nation’s electrical transmission system and build up domestic sourcing for battery components, further enhancing our national security.
• During this visit, Secretary Granholm will meet with industry leaders and convene a community townhall to discuss how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is providing opportunities to help the South lead the nation in the clean energy transition.

• In 2021, there were already 204,813 North Carolina workers employed in the energy sector.
• In the Charlotte area, over 35% of the electric power generation workforce was in wind, solar, and hydroelectric, and over 23,800 workers were employed in energy efficiency.
• The Inflation Reduction Act will expand these opportunities, bringing an estimated $2.7 billion of investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to North Carolina between now and 2030.

• North Carolina is home to over 994,000 small businesses, representing 99.6% of all businesses and employing 44% of all workers in the state, and the Inflation Reduction Act will help them save money. Commercial building owners can receive a tax credit up to $5 per square foot to support energy efficiency improvements that deliver lower utility bills. Other programs that will benefit small businesses include tax credits covering 30% of the costs of installing low-cost solar power and of purchasing clean trucks and vans for commercial fleets.

• North Carolina has a statewide goal of 100% carbon neutral electricity by 2050.
• Currently, North Carolina has over 6.3 GW of solar, wind, and storage capacity, placing it in the top ten states with the most clean electricity capacity in the nation.
• There is an additional 1.4 GW of additional planned clean energy capacity in the works in North Carolina, enough to power more than 233,500 homes. 
• IRA tax credits that encourage investment in wind and solar will help reduce energy costs, as the costs of solar and wind power are projected to drop by 24% and 34%, respectively, over the next 30 years in North Carolina.  
• Since the start of the Biden Administration, we have tracked more than $100 billion in new battery supply chain investments, including $8.7 billion in North Carolina.
• Clean power projects provide $42 million in land lease payments to farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners each year in North Carolina.

• North Carolina currently has 3,147 alternative fueling stations. The state will also receive over $23 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help build out more EV charging stations.
• In 2022, North Carolina had 56,900 registered electric vehicles, a 47% increase from the 38,700 vehicles in 2021. Drivers switching to an electric pickup truck could save over $1700 per year in fuel and maintenance costs compared to a gasoline-powered truck. Drivers of smaller cars could save over $1200 per year. The Inflation Reduction Act will make it easier and cheaper for many to purchase an electric vehicle, with upfront discounts up to $7,500 for new EVs and $4,000 for used EVs, helping many Americans skip the gas pump and save on fuel costs.

• Thanks to funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy has made available more than $117 million in the past year to North Carolina’s state and local governments to invest in energy efficiency and grid resilience. This includes administrative funding to build a robust rebate program to help low-income households access more efficiency appliances and over $9 million to help strengthen grid resilience. 
• Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE has also funded almost $250 million in battery manufacturing in the state of North Carolina. Applied Materials received $100 million to set up a lithium anode manufacturing facility to serve battery cell makers and automobile manufacturers. Albemarle also received $149 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to construct a new, commercial-scale U.S.-based lithium materials processing plant in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. These two facilities will result in almost 300 full time jobs, as well as hundreds of additional jobs during the construction phase of the facilities.

• DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program have invested more than $48 million in North Carolina since 2015, leading to 740 jobs and over 3,400 homes with reduced energy costs and improved health and safety.
• Upgrading appliances and improving home energy efficiency could save a total of 16,500 GWh of energy in North Carolina, enough to power almost 900,000 North Carolina homes.
• North Carolina will receive over $209 million to implement a Home Energy Rebate program in the state. Low-income households in North Carolina could save an average of 52% on their home energy bills when they upgrade their appliances and improve energy efficiency through this program.
• IRA also includes grants to help state and local governments adopt the latest building energy codes, which would save the average new homeowner in North Carolina 16.3% on their utility bills. That amounts to $345 per year.

• North Carolina has five Community Networks that are part of the Rural Partners Network, encompassing 14 rural counties. Supported by USDA, DOE, and other federal agencies, the team focuses on projects prioritized by local communities that unlock the full potential of the region.
• The Biden Administration has committed to advancing equity for all communities, including through the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure Federal agencies deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits of climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, clean water, and other investments to disadvantaged communities. DOE has more than 140 programs covered by this initiative.
• Greensboro, North Carolina is participating in a Clean Energy to Communities Peer Learning Cohort sponsored by DOE to develop a robust strategy for the city to buy clean energy. Apex and Orange County participated in another cohort focused on jump-starting their local clean energy transition, and the Centralina region was part of a third cohort working towards equitable and grid-friendly electric vehicle charging strategies. Each peer learning cohort convenes regularly for several months to exchange strategies and best practices.
• DOE has awarded $1 million to the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center to support emergency managers across the state as they work to reduce the impacts of power outages during disasters. The program’s goal is to strengthen community resilience through distributed energy resources for critical infrastructure facilities, community outposts, and low-income housing.

For current DOE funding opportunities, visit: energy.gov/infrastructure