Charlotte envisioned as 'the Silicon Valley' of energy grid modernization
The Charlotte region could become "the Silicon Valley" of energy grid modernization, according to a UNC Charlotte professor. Why it matters: Charlotte's growth has created a demand for energy, both in terms of residential use and manufacturing. What they're saying: "We envision this region becoming kind of the Silicon Valley of the grid," UNC Charlotte professor and Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC) executive director Rob Cox said Monday at a Charlotte Regional Business Alliance energy roundtable. This includes grid modernization and infrastructure. State of play: Cox's vision would see UNC Charlotte in a similar position to that of Stanford University in Silicon Valley. This would allow UNC Charlotte to lead "because of partnerships," he says. "If we're going to build affordable and reliable power, we're going to need to be able to train workforce to be able to operate and design," Cox says. Between the lines: A key piece is seeing innovation implemented faster. "It's very easy to come up with new ideas that will help the grid," Cox tells Axios. "It's very, very difficult to get those things adopted." It can take up to 15 years to go from concept to adoption and around half a billion dollars,
