Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has a pair of new business gigs — including one with his brother.

McCrory, who lost the gubernatorial race in November, said this morning he's become a partner in McCrory & Company. The company, started by his brother Phil, is a consulting firm that works with business clients to increase sales, Jim Morrill reports.

"My main focus will be to help clients expand their customer base," the mayor says. He'll also use his network of contacts to bring the firm new clients.

It's McCrory's second employer since college. He worked for years in a number of different jobs for Duke.

McCrory this week also joined the board of directors for Tree.com. The company is the parent of LendingTree and other groups such as RealEstate.com and HomeLoanCenter.com.

McCrory declined to say how much he'll earn from either position. However filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission show that Tree.com annually pays directors a retainer of $40,000 and a restricted stock award of $50,000.

At McCrory & Company, he'll make a salary and commission.

Phil McCrory says the company is looking for new office space in the SouthPark area. The company web site currently lists its headquarter address as 4360 Arbor Way, Suite 300. That's the address of Phil McCrory's south Charlotte home.

Gov. Mike Easley called today for energy independence.

At a speech at the Emerging Issues Forum, he said that OPEC and other oil-producing countries have the United States "by the tail."

"I'm tired of being wagged, and I think it's time we did something about it," he said.

He said tax credits for alternative energy and increased efficiency already in place are helping. But he also painted a picture of a future with plug-in hybrid cars powered by home electricity and grids across the state run by Duke Power and Progress Energy.

"It sounds like the Jetsons to you doesn't it?" he said. "Well, Israel is going to do this by 2011."

He said that battery-powered automobiles, such as one he recently test drove, would create American jobs and reduce spending sent to foreign countries that are sometimes hostile.

Easley then announced that the state would start an advanced transportation energy center at N.C. State University in partnership with Progress and Duke to build lighter, cheaper and more efficient batteries. He said General Motors may also join in the center.

He said that the power companies are also working to start the electric grid to power the cars.

"By the time the battery is ready, the grid will be in place," he said.