Peter Ledford Joins North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force

Attorney Peter Ledford has been appointed to the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force, established by Governor Josh Stein through Executive Order 23.

Peter’s term on the 30-member Task Force began on May 18, 2026.

The Task Force was created in August 2025 to advise the Governor, the General Assembly, and other state policymakers on how to manage rising electricity demand while maintaining reliable, affordable, and clean energy for North Carolinians. It is co-chaired by Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson and Representative Kyle Hall and will submit annual reports to the Governor, the General Assembly, the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and the North Carolina Rural Electrification Authority.

“The decisions this Task Force makes will influence North Carolina’s energy future, including how rates are set, how the grid evolves, and how the state responds to unprecedented load growth,” stated Peter. “Being at that table means our clients won’t just be reacting to those decisions. They’ll have a front-row view of where policy is headed, and we can help them plan accordingly.”

The Task Force’s work comes at a critical moment for North Carolina’s energy landscape. The state is facing significant load growth driven by data centers, advanced manufacturing, and a rapidly expanding population. According to Duke Energy’s 2025 load forecast, total demand across its two North Carolina systems is projected to increase between 16% and 60% over the next 15 years, compared with just 7% growth over the prior two decades.

Peter brings more than a decade of public service experience to the role. Before joining Ward and Smith, he served as Deputy Secretary for Policy at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and as Clean Energy Director in the Office of Governor Roy Cooper. He also spent nearly eight years with the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, where he served as General Counsel and Director of Policy. Earlier in his career, he worked on legislative staff at the North Carolina General Assembly. He is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Utilities Law.

Christina Cress, who is also a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Utilities Law, served as the firm’s interim representative on the Task Force, ensuring continuity in the firm’s involvement from the outset. She emphasized Peter’s background.

“Peter has been in the room where these decisions get made — at DEQ, in the Governor’s office, and at NCSEA,” noted Christina. “That experience gives him a level of context that’s hard to replicate. Combined with the work we’re already doing before the Utilities Commission, having Peter on this Task Force means we can give clients a much clearer picture of where the regulatory and legislative landscape is heading and what it means for their business.”

Ward and Smith’s Energy and Utilities Practice represents large energy users, manufacturers, businesses, customer groups, homebuilders, economic developers, and utilities in regulatory proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission and on other energy and utility matters.