There is no disputing the growing importance of the energy sector to the Charlotte region.  It employs more than 25, 500 people in 202 companies in the manufacturing, construction, utilitiesand wholesale industries just to name a few.  Those 25,000 jobs bring in $27 million in sales tax revenue, $1 million in philanthropic contributions, $2.9 billion in home sales and $37 million in property tax revenue.

Despite the recession, the Chamber has announced  a steady stream of expansions over the last two years including:

• 825 jobs added at Siemens

• 180 jobs at SPX

• 178 jobs at Saertex

• 100 jobs projected to be created by the construction of ABB's $90 million dollar facility in Huntersville.

Opportunities for future growth in the energy sector seem endless; and it appears that Charlotte is perfectly positioned to shed its emerging status to become a bonafide energy hub.

To get there, we must first consider the region's role in national energy policy and other issues related to sustainability. Topics that the Charlotte Chamber challenged industry experts to tackle during its 2012 Energy Summit on November 16, 2012 at UNC Charlotte's EPIC Building.