A nature meetup at UNC Charlotte’s botanical gardens is teaching visitors that it’s less about the destination and more about slowing down and taking in the world around them.

A new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association ranks North Carolina fifth in the country for installed solar capacity, with enough generation to power more than 1.2 million homes. However, state regulators this year halted Duke Energy’s procurement of new solar farms until the utility's new carbon plan is approved.

Duke Energy president Harry Sideris previously discussed the company’s collaboration with local governments to attract data centers to its service territories in both Carolinas.

Amid growing pushback over data centers and rising utility bills, consumer advocates are urging state regulators to create new rates for large electricity users.

Charlotte City Council is expected to vote tonight on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new data center applications. Some council members say the pause is needed to study the quickly growing industry and consider new regulations.