North Carolina is lurching toward a future of solar energy, fuel cells and electricity generated from agricultural waste.

On Monday, about 1,200 business leaders, public officials and academics gathered in Raleigh for the annual Emerging Issues Forum to look at the challenges and opportunities that face the state in this uncertain environment of global warming, depleted natural resources and rising energy costs.

The confab, which continues today, took place against the background of protests against Duke Energy's planned coal-burning power plant in the Blue Ridge foothills. Protesters outside the two-day gathering greeted arriving attendees by distributing fliers that were critical of Duke Energy. Inside, beefy security guards patrolled to prevent disruptions.

Electric utilities and big oil companies were the whipping boys of the conference, blamed by some speakers for holding back progress on much-needed development of alternative energy. New York Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman predicted that the utilities will be forced to "change or die."

During his talk, Bill Johnson, CEO of Raleigh-based Progress Energy, joked about the enthusiastic reception from protesters and conference speakers. But Johnson didn't back off from plans to build power plants to meet the state's energy demand.

Splashing cold water on the fervent enthusiasm in the conference hall, Johnson said: "No one you hear here today and tomorrow -- no matter how much you agree with them -- has all the answers."