Raleigh, NC, Feb. 22, 2026 — As discussions continue around major industrial and technology projects in southern Wake County, a new statewide energy report (document) suggests the most significant impacts may come not from buildings or traffic but from electricity.
The findings come from an interim report (document) released February 15th by the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force, a state panel created by Gov. Josh Stein through an executive order in August 2025 to study how North Carolina should manage rising electricity demand while keeping power affordable, reliable, and clean.
The task force, co-chaired by state Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and Rep. Kyle Hall, includes lawmakers, utilities, regulators, industry representatives, universities, and nonprofit organizations. It is expected to continue its work through 2028.
Rapid demand growth drives statewide planning
The report says North Carolina is entering a period of rapid growth in power demand. The utilities project that overall electricity use could rise between 16 percent and 60 percent over the next 15 years, compared with just 7 percent growth over the previous two decades…