Another New York Times columnist is headlining the Emerging Issues Forum.

After last year's turn by Thomas Friedman, the annual Raleigh event this spring will feature conservative commentator David Brooks.

The theme this year is "Changing Landscapes: Building the Good Growth State?" 

"We are thrilled to have David Brooks speak to us about our infrastructure imperative," said former Gov. Jim Hunt. "We anticipate his creative, national perspective will inspire our state's leaders." 

Brooks will talk about how plans for infrastructure investment can be updated to keep pace with changes in the economy and technology.

He has recently gained attention for cautioning against seeing infrastrucutre spending as a solution for economic problems, saying too much spending on repairing existing infrastructure could hurt urban and suburban innovation and slow momentum for a transportation revolution. 

The forum will be held Feb. 9-10.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr was the keynote speaker at a luncheon at the Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh today. The Winston-Salem Republican was the center of discussion after rumors floated that he is being considered as a vice-presidential pick by U.S. Sen. John McCain. (Shawn Rocco)

What can June Atkinson and Les Merritt do about global warming?

Although energy conservation, U.S. foreign policy and climate change were the topics of the day at the Emerging Issues Forum, the state auditor and superintendent of public instruction said they were still in the game.

Atkinson said the forum will give her ideas for "changing the curriculum to help our students understand the importance of being a conserver."

She said educating students about energy resources is another way to help them apply school subjects such as math and science to real-life situations.

Merritt said the state has to look at its performance and must lead the way by buying efficent products, such as hybrid fleet cars.

The statement came after a speech by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr that called on the state to calculate its energy use.

"If there's a policy in place that is counterproductive, we need to shed light on it," Merritt said. "We need to do the conservation things that we talk about."

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr finally explained why he didn't wear socks in New Hampshire.

Speaking at a luncheon at the Emerging Issues Forum today, the Winston-Salem Republican said he asked about the rules on electioneering when he went to campaign for U.S. Sen. John McCain.

He was told that he is not supposed to talk to voters unless they approach him first.

And that's why, he said tongue in cheek, he wore no socks. People all over New Hampshire came up to him during the January primary.

"They'd say, 'Are you crazy? You're not wearing any socks!" he said.

He said he then told them that he was campaigning for McCain—sidestepping the electioneering rule.

Thomas Friedman earned the first big round of applause today.

Aiming his sights at talk show host Rush Limbaugh, the New York Times columnist said that if global warming were not true, it would be the "greatest hoax" ever perpretrated on the United States.

He said that regardless of whether global warming happens, the United States should reduce its energy use and be more green because it would lead to better security and a stronger economy.

"It's like training for the Olympic triathlon," he said. "If the Olympics are held, you may win. If they are not held, you're fitter, healthier and smarter," he said.

That earned the first big round of applause at the Emerging Issues Forum today. (Earlier, a few people clapped when speaker Amory Lovins said sardonically that the U.S. military is trying to reduce its oil usage so that it won't have to fight wars in oil-rich areas.)

But Friedman said he didn't need applause.

"You don't need to clap," he said. "This isn't Crossfire."

Protesters greeted attendees of the Emerging Issues Forum.

Just outside the front door of N.C. State's McKimmon Center, a small group of members of environmental group N.C. WARN held signs saying "Dupe Energy."

Another sign was specifically aimed at Duke Energy head Jim Rogers. "Cancel Cliffside" it pleaded.

The Cliffside coal-fired power plant was recently given final approval by state regulators, though environmentalists have argued it will contribute to global warming and air pollution in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

At the door, N.C. WARN members handed out a one-page memo headlined "Green-Scam Alert."

It argued that Duke has "misled the public, media and elected leaders" on its concerns about global warming as well as the environmental impacts of the Cliffside plant. 

This year's forum is focusing on global warming and energy conservation.