​As electric vehicle adoption grows, access to convenient, reliable charging is becoming a critical part of the transportation transition.

​This session explores how charging infrastructure is evolving across the places people live, work, and travel. Hear perspectives from leaders in workplace charging, transportation planning, and consumer education as they discuss real-world challenges, emerging opportunities, and what it will take to build a connected charging network that supports drivers across North Carolina.

​Speakers

​Jackson Lessnau is an analytical Consultant at SAS, specializing in energy, sustainability, and smart-building analytics. His work focuses on transforming complex operational data into actionable insights that help to optimize facility performance, reduce energy consumption, and increase data visibility for SAS' workplace electric vehicle charging program and on-campus renewable energy systems.

​Riley McNulty is a Regional Sales Manager at Blue Whale EV, a turnkey electric vehicle charging company that offers designs, installation, and ongoing preventative maintenance for EV charging infrastructure. BWEV supports multifamily properties, fleets, government facilities, and commercial sites across the Mid-Atlantic and Nationally via the Sourcewell Contract. He came to the EV industry after nearly five years in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he commanded a cross-functional special operations team.

​Paula Hemmer has a master’s degree in environmental engineering. She worked as a consultant for private industry and government agencies for 8 years. She then worked for the NC Department of Environment Quality for 15 years as an expert on the electricity sector, clean energy, and energy efficiency, including North Carolina’s Clean Energy Plan. She came to NCDOT in 2022 to support clean transportation and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Grant Program.

​Moderator

​Sofya Olenicheva is the Senior Policy Manager at Plug In America, where she leads the organization’s state policy work. Previously, Sofya was Chief of Staff & Policy Advisor at the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), the nation’s first dedicated nonprofit EV trade association. Sofya holds an M.S. in Sustainability, Enterprise & the Environment from the University of Oxford and a B.A. in Public Policy and Global Studies, Environments & Sustainability from the University of Virginia.

​​About NC Climate Week

​This event is part of NC Climate Week 2026, a statewide series of workshops, community events, and conversations designed to accelerate North Carolina forward from climate concern to climate action.

​Hosted by EarthShare North Carolina, the week brings together the people, businesses, and organizations shaping our environmental future. Free virtual Climate Action Workshops and partner-led events offer practical tools and opportunities to learn, connect, volunteer, and take action.

​​Join Us at the NC Climate Week Summit

​NC Climate Week culminates with the NC Climate Week Summit on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Durham.

​This one-day, in-person event features interactive sessions, cross-sector conversations, and leaders from Trane Technologies, NASCAR, ICF, NC Department of Environmental Quality, Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas, MountainTrue, Xylem, NC Sustainable Energy Association, UNC Humanities, NC Wildlife Federation, NC Coastal Federation, NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation, and more.

​Explore the full program and register at ncclimateweek.org/summit.

​Let’s meet the moment, together. 🌎

​​Sponsor

​The Climate Action Workshops at NC Climate Week are supported by Xylem.