While lawmakers champion Bitcoin through initiatives like the 2025 State Investment Modernization Act (HB 506, SB 709) and proposals for a strategic Bitcoin reserve (SB 327, HB 92), North Carolina stands at the precipice of a far greater opportunity. Instead of simply investing in digital gold, we can become the foundational supplier of the entire digital gold rush, seizing the chance to provide the essential “picks and shovels” that power this technological revolution.
North Carolina possesses a unique combination of strengths: exceptional natural resources, established nuclear-power capabilities, world-class academic institutions, and substantial financial clout. This powerful mix enables us to vertically integrate across the digital economy’s value chain, from the raw materials powering semiconductors to advanced data centers and the innovative applications driving artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and blockchain development.
To bring this vision to life, we must forge robust public-private partnerships that blend governmental support with private sector expertise and capital. These partnerships have the potential to generate billions in economic growth and form the cornerstone of what I call RISE NC: Revitalizing Infrastructure for a Stronger Economy in North Carolina.
RISE NC is more than an initiative — it’s a call to action. A united front to build the infrastructure, energy systems, and digital capabilities that position North Carolina as a global leader in the digital economy.
We must face an uncomfortable reality: North Carolina is losing ground to neighboring states. Microsoft’s $1 billion “Project Firecracker” data-center campus in Rome, Georgia and Amazon Web Services’ $11 billion investment near Atlanta creating 550 high-paying jobs, show how others are capitalizing on opportunities we have yet to seize. Virginia continues to dominate as the nation’s premier destination for data centers, particularly in the “Data Center Alley” around Ashburn, VA.
Our competitive disadvantage is clear: inadequate energy infrastructure. North Carolina ranks second nationally in average electricity interruptions per customer, despite our strong foundation in nuclear power with four reactors at McGuire and Brunswick Nuclear Stations providing nearly a third of our electricity. Meanwhile, Georgia has significantly invested in grid reliability, recently activating the 1,114-megawatt nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle. Only a coordinated approach with the private sector leveraging public-private partnerships will propel us toward reliable, modernized energy infrastructure.
RISE NC is a vehicle to leverage our nuclear expertise while investing in critical grid modernization that brings North Carolina firmly into the 21st century. Given our superior resources and strategic advantages, we must ask ourselves: why not North Carolina?
By combining the fiscal strength of our state with private investments through well-structured partnerships, we can build a scalable model that addresses current deficiencies and positions us as a powerhouse in digital innovation and manufacturing.
The crown jewel in our strategic arsenal is Spruce Pine quartz, a mineral of unparalleled purity essential for semiconductor manufacturing. This quartz can anchor an innovative local supply chain for chip production. Rather than relying on imports or synthetic substitutes, we can transform North Carolina into a global leader in chip technology while creating thousands of high-paying manufacturing jobs.
Complementing our natural resources is North Carolina’s exceptional academic landscape, home to world-class universities and research centers nurturing the next generation of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Translating academic breakthroughs into practical applications can ignite innovation that reshapes entire industries. By bridging the gap between academic innovation and industrial application through strategic alliances and public-private ventures, North Carolina can cement itself as the epicenter of tech talent and innovation along the Eastern Seaboard.
Yet innovation alone is not sufficient; we must also strengthen our infrastructure — particularly our energy grid — to attract large-scale technology investments. A comprehensive approach to developing resilient energy sources would create tens of thousands of blue- and white-collar jobs, revitalize rural economies, stabilize energy costs, and dramatically enhance our competitive position while addressing the critical grid reliability issues hampering our economic growth.
These strategic infrastructure investments offer another benefit: bolstering our state pension program. North Carolina’s pension fund, currently undergoing restructuring, would benefit from investments in digital infrastructure projects that historically provide consistent, predictable returns essential for pension sustainability. Texas has demonstrated success with this model by using pension funds to invest strategically in infrastructure and technology, ensuring long-term growth and fiscal stability.
Our financial strength further reinforces this vision. As home to the nation’s second-largest financial hub, North Carolina possesses both the capital and expertise to finance major long-term investments in chip fabrication, energy infrastructure, and digital facilities. By aligning our financial prowess with strategic technological investments and integrating public-private partnerships as a core element, we will position North Carolina as a global magnet for capital and innovation.
Ultimately, a comprehensive approach that includes investing in semiconductors, energy infrastructure, advanced data centers, and digital services will capture the full value chain of the digital economy. This strategy will create high-quality jobs, attract world-class talent, and secure our economic future. North Carolina will not only modernize its infrastructure but also stimulate an economic surge that yields billions in returns.
Critics may point to challenges, such as regulatory hurdles and the coordination of diverse industry efforts. However, North Carolina’s history of resilience and adaptation offers a powerful response. Our state has evolved repeatedly — from agriculture to textiles, then to advanced manufacturing and banking — each time emerging stronger.
By aligning our natural resources, educational excellence, technological infrastructure, and financial capital, we can construct an ecosystem that fully harnesses the economic potential of the digital landscape. This holistic strategy will future-proof our economy by creating secure jobs, empowering future generations, and bolstering our competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market. North Carolina is uniquely positioned to supply the “picks and shovels” for the digital gold rush. With visionary leadership, coordinated strategy, and the right public-private partnerships, our digital transformation is not just achievable; it is inevitable.