Jason Lee, Business Development Specialist, EnergyUnited

Invest: spoke with Jason Lee, business development specialist at EnergyUnited, about the cooperative’s role in supporting economic development across Alexander County and western North Carolina. Lee discussed infrastructure investments, growing industrial electricity demand, and the importance of preparing for companies seeking faster project timelines. “Whether we are looking two years or 10 years ahead, we will need to continue ensuring that we have enough capacity available to meet industry demand,” Lee said.

What does your role at EnergyUnited involve, and how does your work support Alexander County?

I work in economic development and key account management. EnergyUnited covers 19 counties across North Carolina, and Alexander County is part of my western territory, which is generally west of I-77.

I work closely with the county’s economic development team to help attract new businesses and answer questions or concerns related to electric service. Two of our larger key accounts are in Alexander County. We also serve an industrial park in the area and are making investments so we can support more growth in the future.

How is the economic development landscape changing, and where do you see the greatest opportunities?

The landscape is definitely changing on both the electric utility and economic development sides. More industrial and manufacturing projects are coming to North Carolina, and data centers are also a major topic.

We often see companies looking to establish operations quickly, and that has been the case in Alexander County on multiple occasions. We’re making investments in the county to ensure we have excess capacity. We want to be ready whenever companies move into the area, or look to move into the area, and require a certain amount of electricity at a certain date.

That will make Alexander County more attractive and help strengthen the communities we call home as EnergyUnited.

What makes Alexander County attractive for business investment and industrial growth?

Alexander County is well positioned within the state. It is close enough to the Charlotte region, but it is also close to the mountains, so you get the best of both worlds.

The quality of life can help businesses attract and retain talent, and I think those are some of the county’s strongest features. At EnergyUnited, we try to support that momentum and ensure new and expanding companies have the reliable electricity we offer. We make the investments necessary to do that.

How is EnergyUnited preparing to support growing demand while maintaining reliable and affordable service?

One benefit EnergyUnited has is that our executive leadership team negotiated a favorable contract with our power supplier. This helps ensure we have the ability to serve new loads as they come online over the next several years while maintaining reliable and affordable service for our members.

That is a significant benefit because it allows us to protect the long-term value we provide to EnergyUnited members.

What are companies asking for most when they consider locating in the region?

The biggest request we receive is related to the timeline for setting up power and turning on a meter for a new member. That has been the recurring theme in the requests for information we receive.

There are several hurdles involved, including equipment supply chains, available excess capacity, and whether we need to build a new substation, which also takes time.

Reliability is another major factor. EnergyUnited takes pride in maintaining approximately 99% reliability. Having dependable power helps create a more attractive environment for a business considering the area. The biggest hurdle, however, continues to be the timeline for delivering power to new members.

How have conversations around renewable energy and resilience evolved?

In my role, we receive many questions regarding our power supply. There is a broader push for renewable and green energy, so having a robust array of power generation resources is helpful.

It allows us to provide green energy for companies looking for it while also giving us multiple power options. That creates greater reliability, reduces the potential for downtime, and improves our ability to handle larger peaks during storms, heat waves, or cold winter months.

How is EnergyUnited approaching its workforce needs?

EnergyUnited is continually expanding and growing. I do not know the exact number, but we are close to 250 employees across the territory.

Our employees are also local. They must live within a certain distance of the office where they are based. That creates a better environment for rapid response during storms, service issues, or other emergencies.

Keeping employees local and having them be part of the communities we serve definitely helps.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for EnergyUnited and Alexander County?

From an economic development perspective, the next few years will involve navigating the larger electricity demands we are receiving.

In Alexander County, we are investing in a new substation. We are putting new infrastructure in place so we can serve larger-load members or customers that may be considering a move into the county.

It is a multiyear project, but whether we are looking two years or 10 years ahead, we will need to continue ensuring that we have enough capacity available to meet industry demand.

That also goes back to our relationship with our power supplier. Proactive negotiations will be important to ensure we have capacity available for future growth.

Is there anything else you would like readers to know about EnergyUnited?

At EnergyUnited, we do a great job investing in the communities we serve. Making investments in our infrastructure and in the areas EnergyUnited calls home helps create opportunities for both our members and the communities we are part of. We take great pride in being a hometown electric cooperative that supports the communities we serve.