A Vision for Clean Energy Innovations to Drive Regional Economic Development in the Carolinas

Hosted by UNC Charlotte Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC)

CLEANcarolinas is a Type 1 NSF Developmental Regional Innovation Engine led by the University of North Carolina Charlotte, but encompassing partners across North and South Carolina committed to maturing the ecosystem focused on complete development of our clean energy resource basin. This resource basin includes bountiful solar, offshore wind, and marine energy that could be carried by clean hydrogen, or on a modernized, resilient electric-grid. Equitable sharing of the economic benefits from developing and delivering clean energy to customers in the Carolinas, and then around the world, is CLEANcarolinas mission.

The ecosystem will leverage the creativity, research and development expertise and infrastructure, and professional networks of the partner organizations in North and South Carolina to overcome the challenges of transforming to a net-carbon-neutral energy economy.

This workshop will introduce participants to the ecosystem and encourage new partners to join. New partners are needed for CLEANcarolinas to grow from a developmental to a nascent innovation engine, thus potentially qualifying it for a large investment by the National Science Foundation. Come hear how the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program works from Dr. Alan Cohen, a program director in the Technology/Innovation/Partnerships (TIP) directorate of the NSF. And then participate in the panel sessions addressing economic and workforce development and an innovation-driven clean economy fueled by CLEANcarolinas.