In North Carolina, signs of a green tech revolution are everywhere. Craft breweries and electric cars are as common here as they are in California. But this isn't the Golden State; it's the Research Triangle on America's east coast.
Pamela Frederick, a lifelong North Carolina resident, has witnessed her small hometown grow from a quiet village of fewer than 1,000 people into a bustling city of 50,000.
"North Carolina has become incredibly diverse. People are arriving from all over the world," she told Yle.
Frederick is no bystander to this change. Now in her fifties, she works for Kempower, a Finnish company that builds electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
Kempower set up shop in Durham last year, repurposing a former textile factory into a state-of-the-art facility for EV charger production.
Frederick manufactures chargers for the growing EV market, but the industry's future in the US faces challenges under Donald Trump's upcoming presidency.
The former president, returning to the White House in January, has pledged to roll back green energy subsidies, a move that could dampen efforts to combat climate change.
A thriving tech hub
Durham and the surrounding cities form the "Research Triangle," an east coast counterpart to Silicon Valley and one of the world's fastest-growing destinations for venture capital investment.
Once the centre of the US tobacco industry, the area now owes its newfound success to the establishment of a research park between three major universities — Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The region's appeal has drawn high-profile investments, including Kempower's Durham factory and, as reported by the Financial Times, Toyota's 13.9 billion dollar battery plant.
Kempower CEO Tomi Ristimäki said the Triangle's proximity to top-tier universities and its progressive business environment made it an ideal choice.
"We looked at state laws to ensure they aligned with European values," he explained, noting the rejection of areas with "outdated thinking on issues like abortion."
The Research Triangle's focus on innovation has made North Carolina a leader in EV technology, but federal policies under Trump could pose challenges. For instance, Trump has announced plans to eliminate a 7,500 dollar tax credit for EV buyers, potentially slowing demand for both electric vehicles and their charging infrastructure.
States step up
While federal policies may shift, state governments have significant autonomy in the US. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has been instrumental in attracting green tech firms to the state.
Earlier this month, he toured Kempower's Durham facility, using the visit to champion the state's commitment to sustainability.
"The green transition is safe here," he assured the Finnish company, encouraging other firms to invest in the region.
Cooper's term ends in January, and it remains to be seen how his successor will handle green energy initiatives.
Challenges ahead
Kempower faces competition from industry giants like Elon Musk's Tesla, which recently began selling its EV chargers to other auto manufacturers. Tesla's entry into the market presents a direct challenge to Kempower's business in the US.
However, Ristimäki remains optimistic. He argues that Kempower can still thrive, citing Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a 400 billion dollar programme to boost green technology and create jobs, as a key driver of growth.
The IRA's funding will continue for several years, regardless of Trump's presidency.
Ristimäki also claimed economic realities favour EVs in the long run.
"Electric vehicles will become cheaper for people than combustion engine cars over time," he told Yle.
"In the US, where money talks, that will drive the transition, regardless of people's views on climate change."
Ristimäki predicted the next wave of electrification will focus on lorries and buses, necessitating the widespread availability of high-performance chargers — a potential boon for Kempower.
A shifting market
Despite this optimism, the EV industry is not without its challenges. Some EU policymakers have called for relaxed emissions targets to protect traditional carmakers, and EV demand in Europe has underwhelmed this year.
Kempower, once a darling of the Helsinki Stock Exchange, has faced setbacks, including falling share prices and layoffs. Competition from Tesla and uncertainty around potential import tariffs under Trump's administration add to the company's challenges.
However, Ristimäki argued that these same tariffs could benefit Kempower by reducing competition from European and Chinese imports.
As for Musk, Ristimäki suggested the Tesla CEO could act as a counterbalance to Trump's scepticism towards green energy.
"With Tesla's success on the line, Musk may help shield the EV industry," he told Yle.
Ultimately, Ristimäki believes that economic pragmatism will prevail.
"The green transition may generate so much revenue that even Trump might change his mind," he said.