North Carolina State Energy Office Director Beth Schrader will serve as the keynote speaker for SolarFEST which begins Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Center for Energy Education.

A part of the state’s department of environmental quality, Schrader oversees statewide initiatives related to energy, resilience, and workforce development.

SolarFEST 2022 is an annual daylong clean energy display of climate change solutions that help ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. 

The celebration will highlight energy independence through environmental justice, renewable energy investments as well as rural communities’ economic development. 

Public and elected officials, industry representatives, schools and community members have been invited. The event will feature exhibits, food and other hands-on activities.

Clean Power: Light the Night

This evening from 6 to 10 the center will host its Clean Power: Light the Night event, complete with a portable planetarium, food trucks and silent disco.

This is an event that welcomes the community to see the educational, social, and environmental impact of a zero-carbon future. 

The event this evening serves as the American debut of The Clean Energy Avenue of Flags and London-based co-creator – Oliver ‘Oly’ Wayman – will attend.

“The Clean Energy Avenue of Flags visually represents a creative, bold climate change solution,” said Mozine Lowe, C4EE executive director. “These colorful supersize flags look and feel like typical fabric but the yarn comes from recycled ocean plastics. They are a tremendous asset to the center that colorfully align with its mission.”

The center is located at 460 Airport Road outside Roanoke Rapids.