Vicky McCann Celebrates 20 Years at Advanced Energy

We are excited to recognize Vicky McCann for her 20 years at Advanced Energy!

Vicky joined Advanced Energy in a business development role but has spent the majority of her career in client services, establishing and maintaining relationships and acting as the point of contact for ideas, questions and concerns. She also helps plan and oversee the use of account funds to ensure that Advanced Energy’s member utilities receive services that meet their needs.

Vicky began her career managing the account of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) and gradually added Advanced Energy’s other member utilities. As she took on additional responsibilities outside of account management, Vicky continued to oversee both NCEMC and Dominion Energy North Carolina.

A few years into her time at Advanced Energy, Vicky got involved in another effort that turned out to be a huge milestone: the formation of NC GreenPower.

In 2001, the North Carolina Legislature and Environmental Review Commission conducted a study on the future of electric service in North Carolina and the potential for a “green” power or pricing program. They asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to consider whether a checkoff program on utility bills would be effective, and the Commission requested that Advanced Energy lead the investigation into the best available options.

Vicky was part of a small team at Advanced Energy that helped develop the program. The team convened stakeholder meetings with representatives for consumers, electric utilities, the environmental community, technology experts, the State Energy Office and regulators. After two years of discussions, in 2003, NC GreenPower officially launched as a nonprofit subsidiary of Advanced Energy. It was the first independent, statewide, multi-utility green pricing program in the U.S., with a mission to promote renewable energy sources in North Carolina.

Vicky, now NC GreenPower’s vice president, has played an essential role in helping the organization evolve along with the needs of customers and the market while staying true to its values. Overall, the work has made solar, wind, landfill methane, small hydropower and biomass projects more feasible, and NC GreenPower has supported over 1,000 projects across North Carolina to date.

In 2013, around NC GreenPower’s 10th anniversary, the organization explored additional ways to support renewable energy in the state. Its board of directors recognized that schools represented a great opportunity to reach a new audience, and what resulted was the NC GreenPower Solar Schools pilot program.

Solar Schools provides grants for small solar photovoltaic arrays at North Carolina K-12 institutions. Along with the solar installation, the schools receive a weather station, real-time monitoring equipment, a curriculum and educational training for teachers, making it a true hands-on experience for students. By the end of 2018, the program had reached 27 schools in 22 counties, bringing solar and energy education to more than 23,000 students. Vicky and NC GreenPower are currently moving forward with year five.

Vicky’s career at Advanced Energy and NC GreenPower has been highly gratifying and successful. Through her experience, knowledge and skills, she has helped utilities understand the changing energy environment and worked with them to solve problems to meet their needs. Along the way, she has created and maintained relationships and friendships that are making a difference in the lives of many North Carolinians.

“In the 20 years that I have been here, I’ve realized that I’ve never been more proud to work for an organization. The positive impacts that Advanced Energy and NC GreenPower have made have been thoroughly meaningful and rewarding,” Vicky said. “Making personal connections and helping others achieve their goals have been the best part of my experience, but getting to work with incredible colleagues who are more like family is a close second.”

Please join us in congratulating Vicky on her 20-year milestone!