Big Tech, Data Centers & AI on the Energy Grid
How Silicon Valley's largest companies are reshaping North Carolina's power grid, energy policy, and political landscape — one lobbyist at a time.
- 0143 lobbyists registered for major tech companies in NC
- 02Amazon leads with 9 registered lobbyists in Raleigh
- 03Duke Energy deploys 11 lobbyists as data center demand surges
- 04$10 billion in announced data center investments
The Lobbying Landscape
North Carolina's active lobbying registry as of April 2026.
When Big Tech Comes to the State Capitol
The world's largest technology companies have built substantial lobbying operations in North Carolina — not through one or two representatives, but through deep bench strength across Raleigh's most connected firms.
Twelve major technology companies currently maintain active lobbying registrations in North Carolina, employing a combined 43 unique lobbyists. These aren't Washington outsiders parachuting in — they're hiring from the same elite pool of Raleigh insiders who shape healthcare, energy, and education policy.
- 01Amazon leads all tech companies with 9 registered lobbyists
- 02SAS Institute, headquartered in Cary, fields 8 lobbyists
- 03IBM maintains 5 lobbyists despite no major NC campus
- 04Even Meta, with just 1 lobbyist, has a seat at the table
Big Tech's Bench Strength in Raleigh
Number of registered lobbyists per major technology company in North Carolina, April 2026.
Amazon: 9 Lobbyists, One $10 Billion Bet
Amazon has the largest lobbying operation of any tech company in North Carolina, anchored by its massive data center investment in the state.
Amazon plans to invest an estimated $10 billion in North Carolina data centers, expanding cloud computing infrastructure through AWS. The company's 9 registered lobbyists represent one of the deepest government affairs teams of any single corporate client in the state.
- 01Bales, Sarah Amanda
- 02Brubaker, Harold — former NC House Speaker Pro Tem
- 03Brubaker, Jonathan
- 04Copley, Lillian
- 05Corradi, Robert
- 06Gross, Matthew
- 07Kostrzewa, Theresa
- 08Martin, Lisa D.
- 09Rothecker, Kaitlin Nicole
SAS Institute: North Carolina's Homegrown Tech Giant
Headquartered in Cary, SAS is the state's largest privately held software company and fields the second-largest tech lobbying team in Raleigh.
With 8 registered lobbyists, SAS Institute's government affairs presence rivals companies with ten times its market visibility. As a major employer and AI/analytics leader, SAS has deep institutional relationships across both chambers.
- 01Beckett, Brad
- 02Bell, Jennifer Joyner
- 03Fulk, Amy
- 04Kimbrell, Tracy W. — also represents Duke Energy
- 05Moore, Mary
- 06Richard, Dave
- 07Sevier, Thomas Wayne — also represents Dominion Energy
- 08Swearingen, Kerry
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Google, Apple & The Second Tier
Four lobbyists each for Google and Coinbase; three for Apple and TikTok — these companies may have smaller teams, but they've hired some of Raleigh's most connected operators.
- 01Google: Heath, D. Bowen · Merrion, Doug · Miskew, Doug · Tillett, Johnny L.
- 02Apple: Falkenbury, Jamey · Thompson, R. Bruce · Williamson, Caleb
- 03Coinbase: Alligood, Madison · Forrest Swift, Sue Ann · Hardin, John A. · Morgan, William
- 04TikTok: Miller, Alexander C. · Smith, Kiley · Whitley, Cassidy Robertson
- 05Microsoft: Henley, Cameron L. · Pittman, Christopher
- 06Meta: Christensen, Whitney Campbell — sole representative
The Lobbyists Who Bridge Tech and Energy
Five lobbyists hold registrations with both major technology companies and energy utilities — positioning them at the exact intersection where data center policy gets made.
These dual-registered lobbyists are uniquely positioned to shape the emerging debate over data center energy consumption, grid capacity, and rate structures. They understand both sides of the table.
- 01D. Bowen Heath — Google + Dominion Energy (23 total clients)
- 02Tracy W. Kimbrell — SAS Institute + Duke Energy (15 total clients)
- 03Drew Moretz — Cisco + Montauk Energy (16 total clients)
- 04Thomas Wayne Sevier — SAS + Dominion Energy (19 total clients)
- 05Johnny L. Tillett — Google + Dominion Energy (17 total clients)
D. Bowen Heath: The 23-Client Operator
Heath represents Google, Dominion Energy, Koch Government Affairs, DuPont, Airbnb, and 18 other clients — making him one of the most broadly connected lobbyists in the state.
His client roster spans technology, energy, hospitality, insurance, healthcare, and racing. When Google needs to talk about clean energy tariffs and Dominion needs to discuss grid infrastructure, they're hiring the same person.
Executive Order 24: North Carolina's AI Framework
Governor's Trustworthy AI Executive Order, signed September 2, 2025, establishes the state's first formal AI governance structure.
The executive order creates the NC AI Leadership Council to advise the governor on AI strategy, policy, and workforce training. It directs all state agencies to inventory AI technologies currently in use and sets a framework for responsible AI adoption across state government.
- 01Establishes the NC AI Leadership Council
- 02Directs agencies to inventory all AI technologies in use
- 03Sets framework for responsible AI adoption
- 04Addresses workforce training and upskilling
- 05Positions NC as a leader in state-level AI governance
What the AI Executive Order Means for Lobbyists
EO 24 creates new pressure points and opportunities across the lobbying landscape.
As state agencies begin inventorying AI systems and the Leadership Council takes shape, expect increased lobbying activity from vendors seeking state contracts, civil liberties groups concerned about algorithmic bias, and tech companies wanting to shape procurement standards.
- 01SAS Institute (8 lobbyists) is positioned to influence AI analytics procurement
- 02IBM (5 lobbyists) has Watson AI products already in government use
- 03Google and Microsoft both compete for cloud AI infrastructure contracts
- 04Expect new registrations from AI-focused startups and advocacy groups
- 05The Council's recommendations could trigger legislative action in 2027
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The Data Center Boom
North Carolina has become one of the nation's premier data center corridors. With approximately 92 facilities and billions in new investment, the state's digital infrastructure is expanding at a pace that's straining the power grid and testing local governance.
92 Data Centers and Counting
North Carolina hosts approximately 92 data center facilities according to datacentermap.com, concentrated in the Charlotte metro, the Triangle, and along major fiber corridors.
The state's appeal is driven by low energy costs, favorable tax policy, proximity to major fiber routes, and a skilled workforce from Research Triangle universities. But the concentration of facilities is creating new challenges for local power grids and communities.
Amazon's $10 Billion Data Center Complex
Amazon plans to invest an estimated $10 billion in North Carolina to expand cloud computing infrastructure and advance AI innovation.
The investment, announced for Richmond County in south-central North Carolina, represents one of the largest single corporate investments in state history. The project will require enormous amounts of electricity — putting Amazon at the center of North Carolina's energy policy debate.
- 01Located in Richmond County — a rural area seeking economic development
- 02Expected to create hundreds of permanent jobs plus thousands during construction
- 03Will require dedicated power infrastructure from Duke Energy
- 04Triggered Duke Energy to revise its large electric load forecast upward by nearly 2 GW
- 05Lobbyists Harold Brubaker (former Speaker Pro Tem) and 8 others manage state relations
Microsoft Acquires 1,000+ Acres in Person County
Microsoft's acquisition of over 1,000 acres in Person County signals another massive data center campus in North Carolina's pipeline.
The scale of the land acquisition — larger than many small towns — indicates Microsoft is planning a multi-phase, long-term data center complex. Person County, in the northern Piedmont near the Virginia border, offers relatively cheap land and proximity to existing transmission infrastructure.
- 01Over 1,000 acres acquired — one of the largest tech land purchases in NC history
- 02Person County offers lower land costs than Triangle metro areas
- 03Proximity to Virginia's data center corridor (Loudoun County) is strategic
- 04Microsoft has 2 registered lobbyists: Henley, Cameron L. and Pittman, Christopher
- 05Local community impact assessments are ongoing
Duke Energy's Load Forecast: 5.9 GW by 2035
Duke Energy updated its periodic large electric load forecast to 5.9 GW by 2035 — an increase of nearly 2 GW from just 12 months earlier.
The surge is driven almost entirely by data center commitments. To put 5.9 GW in perspective, that's roughly equivalent to the output of 6 nuclear reactors or enough to power more than 4 million homes. This forecast was revised upward after Amazon announced its $10 billion NC investment.
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Communities Push Back: Moratoriums and Pauses
As data center proposals multiply, several North Carolina communities are seeking moratoriums or pauses on new development.
The tension between economic development and community impact is playing out in town halls and county commission meetings across the state. Residents cite concerns about noise, water usage, property values, and the strain on local power infrastructure.
- 01Mooresville — considering limits on data center development
- 02Iredell County — local leaders weighing growth controls
- 03Surry County — community concerns about rural character
- 04Chatham County — balancing growth with preservation
- 05Local governments lack clear zoning frameworks for mega-scale facilities
The Energy Policy Battleground
Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity. Who pays for the new generation capacity, and what fuel sources power it, is the defining energy policy question in North Carolina.
- 01Duke Energy proposes up to 12.3 GW of new fossil fuel capacity by 2040
- 02Tech companies want clean energy tariffs — their goals exceed the state's
- 03The Power Bill Reduction Act removed the 2030 interim carbon target
- 04Load flexibility vs. new generation is the key policy debate
11 Lobbyists for the State's Largest Utility
Duke Energy Business Services LLC maintains the largest energy-sector lobbying team in North Carolina — a reflection of the company's central role in every major energy policy debate.
Inside Duke's 11-Person Lobbying Operation
Duke Energy's registered lobbyists include former legislators, senior government affairs professionals, and attorneys who collectively cover every policy committee in the General Assembly.
- 01Crowder, Courtney A.
- 02Daniel, Peter T.
- 03Griggs, Claudia Shoemaker
- 04Kaylor, Robert W. — also represents Dominion Energy
- 05Kimbrell, Tracy W. — also represents SAS Institute
- 06McCrimmon, La'Tanta (LT)
- 07McIntire, Mark
- 08McLaughlin, W. Kevin
- 09Minto, Ryan J
- 10Simpson, Dana E.
- 11Weishaar, Kara
The Power Bill Reduction Act (SB 266)
Session Law 2025-78 is the legislative backdrop for virtually every energy and data center debate unfolding in North Carolina today.
The law removed the 2030 interim carbon reduction target from North Carolina's energy policy framework. This single change enabled Duke Energy's Carolinas Resource Plan, filed after the law passed, to propose adding up to 12.3 gigawatts of fossil fuel generation by 2040.
- 01Removed the 2030 interim carbon target — key constraint on fossil fuel expansion
- 02Directly enabled Duke's proposal for 12.3 GW of new fossil fuels by 2040
- 03Explains why tech companies are pushing clean energy tariffs through the NCUC
- 04Many major tech companies now have more aggressive clean energy goals than the state
- 05Duke's rate hike request, HB 638, and the NCUC conference all flow from this law
When Corporate Goals Exceed State Policy
Major tech companies have set clean energy targets that are now more ambitious than North Carolina's state-level requirements.
Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft have all committed to 100% renewable energy or carbon-free operations. But with the 2030 interim target removed by SB 266, North Carolina's energy trajectory is moving in the opposite direction. This gap is driving tech companies to lobby aggressively for clean energy tariffs through the NC Utilities Commission.
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House Bill 638: The Data Center Tax Debate
HB 638 addresses tax incentives for data center development in North Carolina — a critical lever in the state's competition for billions in tech investment.
The bill sits at the intersection of economic development and fiscal policy. Supporters argue tax breaks are necessary to compete with Virginia, Texas, and Georgia for data center investment. Critics question whether massive energy consumers should receive tax relief when they're driving up grid costs for all ratepayers.
- 01Proposes tax incentives to attract and retain data center investment
- 02North Carolina competes directly with Virginia's Data Center Alley
- 03Critics ask: should energy-intensive facilities get tax breaks?
- 04Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are all watching this bill closely
- 05Passes through Commerce and Revenue committees
House Bill 1002: No Cost Recovery for Data Centers
HB 1002 would prohibit utilities from passing the costs of serving data centers through to residential and commercial ratepayers.
This bill directly addresses the core tension in the data center energy debate: when a utility builds new generation capacity to serve a single massive customer, who pays? HB 1002 says the data center should bear the full cost — not spread it across all ratepayers.
- 01Prohibits cost recovery for data center-specific infrastructure through general rates
- 02Addresses the 'socialization of costs' concern from consumer advocates
- 03Would force data centers to negotiate direct power agreements
- 04Duke Energy and tech companies are on opposite sides
- 05Represents the most direct legislative challenge to the data center model
Load Flexibility vs. New Generation
The fundamental policy question: should data centers be required to flex their energy consumption to match available supply, or should the state build new power plants to meet their demand?
Load flexibility means data centers would shift computing workloads to times when renewable energy is abundant or demand is low. New generation means building gas plants, nuclear reactors, or renewable farms specifically to serve data center load. Each path has profound implications for ratepayers, the environment, and the grid.
- 01Load flexibility: data centers shift workloads to match grid conditions
- 02New generation: build dedicated power infrastructure for tech demand
- 03Duke Energy favors new generation — 12.3 GW of proposed fossil capacity
- 04Tech companies prefer flexibility + clean energy tariffs
- 05The NCUC conference in October 2025 surfaced this tension directly
The NCUC Large Load Conference
October 14-15, 2025 — Raleigh. The NC Utilities Commission convened a rare public conference to examine how large electric loads from data centers are reshaping grid planning.
The two-day conference brought together utilities, tech companies, consumer advocates, and regulators to confront a problem no one had fully anticipated: the sheer scale of electricity demand from data centers is outpacing the state's ability to plan and build generation capacity.
- 01Duke Energy presented revised demand forecasts showing 5.9 GW by 2035
- 02Tech companies argued for clean energy tariff options
- 03Consumer advocates raised alarm about cost socialization
- 04Lack of transparency around large-load interconnection queues was flagged
- 05No binding decisions — but the conference shaped the legislative debate
What We Don't Know May Matter Most
A significant gap exists in public information about large-load electricity capacity coming online in North Carolina.
Unlike real estate development, where building permits and zoning filings create a public record, data center power agreements are largely negotiated behind closed doors. The NCUC conference revealed that regulators themselves struggle to get comprehensive data about planned large loads.
Reshaping the State Energy Economy
North Carolina's data center boom isn't just an energy story — it's fundamentally reshaping the state's economic relationship with electricity.
For decades, North Carolina's energy economy was driven by manufacturing, residential growth, and commercial development. Data centers represent a new category of consumer: enormous, concentrated loads that can arrive in a single year, demanding dedicated infrastructure. The state's regulatory framework was not designed for customers who consume as much power as small cities.
- 01Data centers consume 10-50x more electricity per square foot than offices
- 02A single hyperscale facility can use as much power as 80,000 homes
- 03Grid investments to serve data centers have 20-30 year payback periods
- 04Rural communities gain jobs but face water and noise concerns
- 05The benefits of data centers are global; the costs are local
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Duke's Carolinas Resource Plan: 12.3 GW of Fossil Fuels
Filed after the Power Bill Reduction Act removed the 2030 interim carbon target, Duke Energy's plan proposes adding up to 12.3 gigawatts of fossil fuel generation by 2040.
The plan represents a dramatic pivot from previous iterations that included more renewable energy. Environmental groups argue the plan locks North Carolina into decades of fossil fuel dependency. Duke maintains the new generation is necessary to meet surging demand from data centers while maintaining grid reliability.
- 01Up to 12.3 GW of new fossil fuel capacity proposed by 2040
- 02Enabled by SB 266's removal of the 2030 interim carbon target
- 03Includes natural gas combined cycle and combustion turbines
- 04Clean energy groups call it a 'generational step backward'
- 05Duke argues reliability requires firm, dispatchable generation
Renewable Energy Groups Mobilize
Clean energy organizations have assembled their own formidable lobbying presence in North Carolina to counter Duke Energy's fossil fuel plans.
The Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, NC Sustainable Energy Association, and American Clean Power Association collectively employ 17 lobbyists — a significant counter-weight to Duke's 11.
NC Bills Impacting Data Centers & Tech
Active and recent legislation affecting data center development, energy policy, and technology companies in North Carolina.
- 01HB 638 — Data center tax incentives and development framework
- 02HB 1002 — Prohibits cost recovery for data center loads through general rates
- 03SB 266 (SL 2025-78) — Power Bill Reduction Act; removed 2030 carbon target
- 04EO 24 — Trustworthy AI Executive Order; establishes AI Leadership Council
- 05Duke Resource Plan — 12.3 GW fossil fuel proposal before NCUC
- 06NCUC Docket — Clean energy tariff proceedings for large loads
- 07Local moratorium bills — Various county-level data center pauses
The Lawmakers Shaping Data Center Policy
These legislators chair the committees or hold leadership positions most relevant to the big tech and energy intersection in North Carolina.
These four legislators will have outsized influence on whether North Carolina becomes a welcoming or cautious environment for data center development. Their positions on HB 638, HB 1002, and utility rate cases will shape billions of dollars in investment decisions.
- 01Senator Tim Moffitt — Energy and utility committee leadership; central to HB 638 and NCUC oversight
- 02Representative Dean Arp — Key voice on data center development and tax policy
- 03Senator Phil Berger — Senate President Pro Tem; sets legislative priorities including energy
- 04Speaker Destin Hall — House Speaker; controls floor calendar and committee assignments
Crypto, AI, and the New Lobbyists
Beyond traditional big tech, cryptocurrency companies and AI startups are establishing their own lobbying presence in Raleigh.
Coinbase has 4 registered lobbyists in North Carolina — more than Microsoft or Apple. Cryptocurrency companies face unique regulatory challenges around money transmission, securities classification, and energy consumption for mining operations.
- 01Coinbase: 4 lobbyists (Alligood, Forrest Swift, Hardin, Morgan)
- 02TikTok: 3 lobbyists focused on data security and privacy
- 03Bitcoin Depot: registered through D. Bowen Heath's practice
- 04AI-focused lobbying expected to grow after EO 24 implementation
- 05Crypto mining operations add to data center energy demands
Data Center Power Demand: The Next Decade
North Carolina data center power demand is projected to grow dramatically over the next decade, driven by AI workloads that consume far more electricity than traditional computing.
AI training and inference workloads consume 3-5 times more electricity per rack than traditional cloud computing. As every major tech company races to build AI infrastructure, the power demands on North Carolina's grid will only accelerate.
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Tech Companies Push for Clean Energy Tariffs
Unable to meet their corporate sustainability commitments under current utility structures, major tech companies are lobbying the NCUC for dedicated clean energy rate options.
Google is leading the push for clean energy tariffs — specialized rate structures that would allow large customers to purchase renewable energy directly or fund new clean generation tied to their load. The effort represents tech companies attempting to solve at the regulatory level what the legislature declined to mandate.
- 01Google lobbying for NCUC clean energy tariff approval
- 02Would allow large customers to fund dedicated renewable generation
- 03Duke Energy supports some tariff concepts but wants to control procurement
- 04Clean energy tariffs exist in 20+ other states — NC is behind
- 05Tech company sustainability reports increasingly cite NC operations
The Full Energy Lobbying Roster
Beyond Duke Energy, North Carolina's energy and utility sector employs 59 unique lobbyists across more than 20 organizations.
The energy lobby includes investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, municipal power agencies, clean energy advocates, and pipeline operators. Together, they represent one of the largest and most active sectors in the state's lobbying ecosystem.
- 01Duke Energy Business Services: 11 lobbyists
- 02NC Association of Electric Cooperatives: 7 lobbyists
- 03NC Sustainable Energy Association: 7 lobbyists
- 04Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association: 5 lobbyists
- 05Dominion Energy: 4 lobbyists
- 06ElectriCities of NC: 4 lobbyists
- 07Strata Clean Energy: 3 lobbyists
- 08NextEra Energy, Apex Clean Energy, Energy Transfer: 2 each
Duke's Rate Hike Request and the Data Center Connection
Duke Energy's pending rate increase request is inextricable from the data center buildout — new generation costs flow directly to ratepayers under current regulatory structure.
When Duke builds new power plants to serve data center demand, those costs are spread across all customers through the rate base. HB 1002 attempts to change this by prohibiting cost recovery for data center-specific infrastructure. But without that bill, every North Carolina household and business subsidizes the electricity infrastructure that tech companies need.
- 01Duke's rate request includes costs for new generation capacity
- 02Data center demand is a primary driver of the capacity need
- 03Average residential customer could see monthly increases
- 04HB 1002 would separate data center costs from general rates
- 05Industrial ratepayer groups are vocal opponents of cost socialization
How Other States Are Handling Big Tech
North Carolina isn't alone in confronting the data center energy challenge. States across the country are developing policy responses — and NC lobbyists are watching.
Virginia's Prince William County considered moratoriums. Georgia is in a tax incentive competition with NC. Texas is exploring grid flexibility mandates. Oregon passed water usage restrictions for data centers. Each of these policy experiments is being studied by North Carolina lobbyists and legislators.
Emerging Issues: What's Coming Next
Based on national trends and current NC lobbying activity, these issues are likely to emerge in the next 12-24 months.
- 01Water consumption disclosure — data centers use millions of gallons for cooling
- 02AI-specific energy standards — regulating power-per-compute ratios
- 03Small modular nuclear reactors — tech companies exploring dedicated SMRs
- 04Right-to-repair for data center equipment — reducing e-waste
- 05Digital sovereignty and data residency requirements
- 06Property tax assessment methods for data center equipment
- 07Noise ordinances tailored to 24/7 industrial operations
- 08Workforce development programs tied to data center tax incentives
Small Modular Nuclear: Tech's Next Energy Play
Multiple tech companies are exploring small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) as a dedicated, carbon-free power source for data centers.
Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have all made announcements related to nuclear energy. SMRs could provide 24/7 carbon-free electricity without the intermittency of wind and solar, making them attractive to tech companies with aggressive climate commitments. North Carolina, with its existing nuclear expertise at Duke Energy, could be a natural home for SMR deployment.
- 01Google signed a nuclear power agreement in late 2024
- 02Microsoft signed a deal to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1
- 03Amazon invested in SMR developer X-energy
- 04Duke Energy has nuclear operations expertise in NC
- 05Regulatory framework for SMRs is still developing at NRC
The Water Question Nobody's Asking
Data centers consume millions of gallons of water for cooling systems. As facilities multiply across North Carolina, water usage could become the next major policy flashpoint.
Oregon recently passed water usage disclosure requirements for data centers. North Carolina has no similar requirement. As the state's data center footprint grows, expect water to become a significant lobbying battleground — especially in drought-prone areas.
Tech vs. Energy: Lobbying at Scale
Total registered lobbyists by sector in North Carolina — Big Tech and Energy are two of the largest concentrations of corporate lobbying in the state.
Together, the technology and energy sectors account for 97 unique lobbyists — more than 15% of all active lobbyists in North Carolina. Five lobbyists hold registrations in both sectors, sitting at the exact intersection where data center policy gets made.
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Five Things to Watch This Session
The intersection of big tech and energy policy will generate significant legislative and regulatory activity through the remainder of the 2026 session.
Each of these items involves active lobbying from the companies and organizations profiled in this edition. Follow them on Lapel's live feed for real-time registration changes.
- 01HB 638 committee votes — will data center tax incentives survive?
- 02HB 1002 momentum — can cost-recovery prohibition gain sponsors?
- 03NCUC clean energy tariff proceedings — Google and Duke's competing visions
- 04Duke Energy rate case outcome — how much will ratepayers absorb?
- 05Local moratorium decisions — Mooresville and Chatham County as bellwethers
About This Edition
This analysis is based on active lobbying registrations filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State and publicly available legislative and regulatory records.
Lapel Intelligence monitors the NC Secretary of State lobbying registry daily. Registration changes are detected automatically and published in real time on Lapel's live feed.
- 01Lobbying data: NC Secretary of State active registrations as of April 2026
- 02Legislative data: NC General Assembly bill tracking system
- 03Regulatory data: NC Utilities Commission docket filings
- 04Energy data: Duke Energy Carolinas Resource Plan and load forecasts
- 05Data center data: datacentermap.com, public corporate announcements
- 06All lobbyist-client relationships reflect current registrations, not historical
Complete Tech Lobbying Roster — April 2026
Every registered lobbyist for major technology companies in North Carolina.
- 01Amazon (9): Bales, Brubaker H., Brubaker J., Copley, Corradi, Gross, Kostrzewa, Martin L., Rothecker
- 02SAS (8): Beckett, Bell, Fulk, Kimbrell, Moore, Richard, Sevier, Swearingen
- 03IBM (5): Burr, Davis, Saine, Whitehurst, Wilkinson
- 04Coinbase (4): Alligood, Forrest Swift, Hardin, Morgan
- 05Google (4): Heath, Merrion, Miskew, Tillett
- 06TikTok (3): Miller, Smith, Whitley
- 07Apple (3): Falkenbury, Thompson, Williamson
- 08Microsoft (2): Henley, Pittman
- 09Salesforce (2): Edmisten, Maret
- 10Cisco (2): Moretz, Turlington
Single-Lobbyist Tech Companies
These companies maintain a minimal but strategic lobbying presence — one well-connected representative each.
A single lobbyist doesn't mean a small footprint. Doug Miskew's dual registration for Google and Oracle gives him outsized influence on tech policy. Whitney Campbell Christensen represents Meta across privacy, content moderation, and AI legislation.
- 01Oracle America, Inc. — Doug Miskew (also represents Google)
- 02Meta Platforms, Inc. — Whitney Campbell Christensen
- 03IntelinAir, Inc. — Anna Scott Marsh (agricultural AI)
Who Controls the Future of NC's Grid?
The answer is being negotiated right now — in committee rooms, regulatory hearings, and county commission meetings across North Carolina.
Forty-three tech lobbyists want data centers built quickly and powered cleanly. Fifty-nine energy lobbyists are navigating between their utility clients' generation plans and the state's evolving policy framework. Five lobbyists sit in both camps. Four legislators hold disproportionate power over the outcome. And every North Carolina ratepayer has a stake in the result.
- 01The data center boom is irreversible — the question is who pays and how
- 02Clean energy vs. fossil fuel generation will be fought bill by bill
- 03Local communities will increasingly assert control over siting decisions
- 04The 5 dual-registered lobbyists may be the most important people in this debate
- 05Follow the lobbyists to understand what's really happening
Track Every Move. Know Every Player.
Lapel monitors the North Carolina lobbying registry daily. Search any lobbyist, client, or bill to see who's working whom.
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- 02Searchable database of every active lobbyist-client relationship
- 03Real-time feed of registration changes, new filings, and dropped clients
- 04Weekly editions with deep analysis of emerging policy intersections
- 05Free to use — built for transparency in North Carolina government
Edition 2: Local Government Faces Property Tax Limits
NC legislative leaders are signaling action on a Constitutional amendment to limit property taxes — a move that would reshape local government budgets statewide.
- 01Who lobbies for the NC Association of County Commissioners?
- 02League of Municipalities' lobbying strategy analyzed
- 03Counties and cities registered directly — who's spending the most?
- 04Local government lobbying expenditure analysis: 2020-2024
- 05What a property tax cap would mean for every county in NC
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