Chambers for Innovation Chambers for Innovation

Chamber Power Line: Volume 9 August 2023

Highlighting Chamber Innovation, Policy Updates, & Clean Energy News
CICE Team Announcements & Hiring Opportunities
Welcome Emily Burlinghaus

Emily joined CICE in June 2023 as the Director of Policy and Research after returning from Germany, where she was a German Chancellor Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam. During her fellowship, she conducted research on improving the sustainability of battery supply chains for electric vehicles. Her work focused on considerations around the EU Batteries Regulation; comparative approaches to battery sustainability between the US and Europe; and social justice implications of the transition to battery technology. Prior to her fellowship, she was an assistant director at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, where she worked on nuclear energy, state-level energy policy, and coordination of the center’s annual Global Energy Forum.

She has served as a program officer at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani as well as a researcher at DC-based think tanks, including the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Center for Strategic and International Studies.

She is a graduate of New York University and is currently pursuing her MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins.

Chambers In Action
Stories of leadership by chambers of commerce across the country
Florida Chambers of Commerce are Leading Their Communities in Resiliency and Sustainability Efforts

With the start of the 2023 hurricane season, chambers and governments throughout Florida are reassessing their resiliency as they prepare for the next storm.

In one of the country’s most vulnerable areas, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is leading its community in this endeavor, recently organizing a trip to Lee County to learn from the chambers and cities still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

Read the full CIA here
Bank of America CEO Speaks on the Advancement of a Clean Energy Economy at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference

The Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce held their annual Mackinac Policy Conference from May 30 to June 2 on Mackinac Island. This year’s conference focused on “the Power of &” which created dialogue among speakers and participants on why Michigan should be focused on an “and” approach, opposed to an “either or” when it comes to policy solutions. This sparked healthy and productive conversations and showed that the “Power of &” can bring polarizing sides closer to a middle ground.

Read the full CIA here
Chamber Leader, Miller Electric Company - Getting a Jump on Electrifying Transportation

At the groundbreaking of Miller Electric's new Electric Vehicle Innovation Design Center (EVIDC), Henry Brown, Miller Electric’s CEO, explained, “At Miller Electric we believe that sustainability and economic progress go hand in hand. We really see this as an opportunity to grow jobs and invest in our community”. Brown also noted that in ten years, half of cars for sale will be electric. Kerri Stewart, Chief Strategy Officer at Miller Electric and JAX Chamber Board member, added, “We are proud to spearhead decarbonization efforts in Jacksonville and Florida while revolutionizing the way commercial consumers engage with the EV industry.”

Read the full CIA here
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Adds New EV Charging Station

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has begun embracing the looming electric-vehicle revolution.

“Ninety-five percent of the people that come to visit us every year come by car,” said Karen Riordan, president and CEO of the chamber. “So as more and more people purchase electric car, we’re going to need to have these chargers. So we’re really trying to get ahead of it. Our stated goal is to become the electric vehicle charging hot spot of South Carolina.”

Read the full CIA here
San Francisco Chamber Foundation Collaborates to Promote Yes San Francisco, Urban Sustainability Challenge
The Yes SF, Urban Sustainability Challenge will bring together a community of organizations, entrepreneurs and leaders to help create a more sustainable and inclusive San Francisco as the city works to become a model for resiliency.

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce CEO & President, Rodney Fong, said, “San Francisco has a generational opportunity to build on its core strengths as a global center of commerce, with a talented, educated workforce and a long history of leadership in technology and innovation, to refocus its energy on leading the fight against climate change.”

Read the full CIA here
Public Policy Spotlight
Upcoming Events
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Turbine Tour
August 28, 2023, 7:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy is hosting a tour of the offshore wind turbine installation located off the coast of southern Virginia. This tour is being offered to chamber of commerce and economic development executives, stakeholders, and policymakers in North Carolina and Virginia.

Location: Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach

Time: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • Lunch will be served on the boat

Hotel Accommodations: Hyatt Place Virginia Beach Town Center
  • All room reservations need to be made prior to August 23, 2023, after this date all remaining rooms in the block will be released back into general inventory at the standard rates.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see the turbines in their natural habitat and also hear from John Larson, Director of Public Policy and Economic Development for Dominion Energy, about the economic impact, supply chain, and job creation associated with the development. 

*Scholarship funds are available, on a limited basis, for those who need assistance with accommodations and/or travel. If budget constraints are preventing your participation, please contact Michele Querry for assistance securing your spot on the tour.  

If you have any questions and/or are interested in attending, please contact Michele Querry.
Arizona's Explosive Growth in Clean Energy Jobs and Manufacturing and the Impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act

Virtual, September 12, 2023, 10 A.M. MST

Join us for a virtual session co-hosted by Arizona Forward, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.

Over the past few years, CICE has showcased the economic and financial opportunity in the clean energy sector and how Arizona has leveraged this opportunity to attract new businesses, create job opportunities, and mitigate climate change.

Fast forward to 2023 - Arizona has had much success, and more than one year into the implementation of the Inflation Reduction and Infrastructure Acts is advancing rapidly in the transition to clean energy.

This panel will be moderated by Kelly Barr, Chair of the Arizona Forward Board and former Strategy and Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive at Salt River Project and include opening remarks by Rob Elias, CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. During the session, we will provide a snapshot of where Arizona is today on several fronts:

  • Business growth - the many announcements of manufacturing facilities coming to Arizona - Steven G. Zylstra, CEO and President, Arizona Technology Council

  • Rapid development of a skilled workforce - filling the large number of jobs in battery and EV manufacturing and renewable energy projects - Joel Millman, Pinal County Workforce Development Manager

  • Updated policies - state and federal government policies that support investment - Blaise Caudill, Policy Advisor on Energy for Governor Hobbs
Clean Energy Economic Development News
First Solar selects Louisiana as home of solar panel factory

The $1.1 billion facility is expected to be the largest capital investment in the state's history. The new site is slated for completion in 2026 and is expected to create more than 700 jobs.

Read more
www.utilitydive.com
Korean electrolyte manufacturer to build $152M plant in TN

Enchem America Inc., a subsidiary of the Korean-based battery materials manufacturer, will build its second U.S. plant in Brownsville, Tennessee, in the growing "battery belt" across the South.

Read more
www.timesfreepress.com
The US climate law is fueling a factory frenzy.

In just 12 short months, Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has spurred more than 100 new cleantech manufacturing announcements and nearly $80B in private investment.

Read more
www.canarymedia.com
Vestas Announces $40M Investment in Colorado

Vestas plans to invest $40 million in its two Colorado factories for building expansions, production equipment, and new blade molds, which will provide the infrastructure needed to bring the V163-4.5 MW turbine to market and support the local...

Read more
www.renewableenergymagazine...
Clean Energy Resources
2022 CICE Annual Report
2023 Clean Energy
Investment Series
Net Metering Resource for Chambers
More Resources

For more clean energy resources visit our website and check out our Resources section.
If you'd like to submit content for this newsletter or have questions for our team of clean energy experts, please email us at cicecoordinator@chambersforinnovation.com.
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Florida Power Line: Volume 2 July 2023

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Take a look at recent Florida legislation and news.

Chambers in the News

Florida Chambers of Commerce are Leading their Communities in Resiliency & Sustainability Efforts

In one of the country’s most vulnerable areas, the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is leading its community in this endeavor, recently organizing a trip to Lee County to learn from the chambers and cities still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

Read More

Sunbridge project shows importance of thinking solar | Lake Nona Regional Chamber Op-Ed

The 27,000-acre development will feature 23,000 single-family homes and 13,000 multifamily residences, and every house built will incorporate solar energy.

Read More

Policy

Recap of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and Lake Area Economic Development (LEAD) co-hosted an update summarizing the clean energy, resilience, and sustainability outcomes from the recent Florida Legislative Session. The recap featured State Senator Jason Brodeur, chair, Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.

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Tampa becomes the latest Florida city to unveil a climate action plan

Approximately two years in the making, Tampa officials on Friday unveiled a 156-page "Climate Action and Equity Plan, becoming the latest local government in Florida to lay out a path to transition to renewable energy and increase the city's resilience to the effects of climate change.

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Senate Bill 284

The aim of Senate Bill 284 was to update the metric by which Florida governmental agencies measure vehicle operational costs and make purchase decisions. Today this cost is measured in miles per gallon. With the advent of hydrogen and electricity as vehicle fuel sources (along with gasoline), the goal was to switch to a metric for total cost of ownership. Senate Bill 284 was passed, but for one vote, unanimously by the legislature and subsequently vetoed by Governor DeSantis on 28 June. The Governor did not provide comment on why he chose to veto the bill, but stay tuned as it will possibly be back again next session. Click here to learn more about the issues and veto. 

Inflation Reduction Act in Action

Good Jobs, Great Cities

City leaders are presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in their communities thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic federal investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

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How Federal Clean Energy Tax Credits Benefit Florida

Federal clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are transforming the United States economy, already generating nearly $250 billion in project announcements that could create more than 140,000 new jobs. Prior modeling by Energy Innovation Policy & Technology LLC® showed IRA tax credits are projected to unleash billions in investment by 2030, increasing GDP up to $200 billion and creating up to 1.3 million jobs nationally. 

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For More Information

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy is happy to provide further information and education for your membership on the above policy or any of the other energy related news. For follow up, contact anne@chambersforinnovation.com.


Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy

chambersforinnovation.com

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Chambers for Innovation Chambers for Innovation

Florida Power Line: Volume 1 March 2023

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Take a look at recent Florida legislation and news.

In the News

Introduced Legislation

The 2023 Florida legislative session is underway and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy is tracking several clean energy related bills. 


There are many headlines about partisan issues in Tallahassee. We are here to help you understand clean energy issues and, in particular, several bills with bipartisan support that we consider good for the economy. These represent fiscally-sound legislation and ones that also help Florida utilize clean energy.


Here are a few of the more important clean energy-related bills we currently see:

Measuring total cost of ownership for state owned vehicles - SB 284/HB 1025


These bills give greater flexibility to governmental agencies to consider multiple types of vehicles in addition to traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles. 


Currently, state governments must take into account fuel efficiency when calculating cost of ownership and buying vehicles. For example, gasoline fuel efficiency is not the same metric used to assess total cost of ownership for an electric vehicle. Thanks to this bill, that metric is remedied to enable ‘apples to apples’ cost comparison.


Status: It has passed two Senate committees with bipartisan and unanimous support.

Solar Power on Schools - HB195/SB178


These bills could help local school districts become more resilient by adding solar to the schools. HB195/SB178 eliminates restrictions on spending capital dollars on this effort. By adding solar panels to schools, not only do they become better emergency shelters, but this also frees up operational dollars for classroom instruction.  


Status: This bill has passed one committee with unanimous bipartisan support.

Providing competitive EV infrastructure - HB1591/SB1176


HB1591/SB1176 bills relate to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. They require the Public Service Commission to adopt rules to maintain a competitive market for electric vehicle charging stations which meet certain requirements and provide a timeline for the proposal and adoption of such rules. They also prohibit a public utility from using rate base investment for certain purposes.  


Status: This legislation has not received a committee hearing as of yet.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Metrics and Reporting - SB302/ HB3


SB302/HB3 focus on banking regulations, bond issuance, and investing where ESG and/or social credit metrics are applied. These bills are a priority for Governor Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner. How does this relate to clean energy?  


Viewing the bills through a strictly economic lens, the question is whether reporting on things such as resilience preparedness, energy security, or hurricane propensity, should be used as a way to assess risk in a financial transaction. That transaction may involve anything from consumer or pension fund investments to governments borrowing money via bond issues. The common thread is risk/return assessment. Risk assessment is part of the capital markets system and for this reason, CICE supports improvements to metrics to accurately reflect risk over a multi-year horizon.  


Status: Passed its final committee March 14 - on the House floor calendar.

For More Information

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy is happy to provide further information and education for your membership on the above bills or any of the other energy related bills. For follow up, contact anne@chambersforinnovation.com.


Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy

chambersforinnovation.com

Read More