VA Local Chambers Say “100,000 Times Yes” to Clean Energy

During last month’s annual Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives conference, local chamber leaders were asked: “Do you agree it makes good economic sense for Virginia to move forward with a plan to increase the use of clean energy?”

In completing the survey, one chamber executive answered with a check plus, one with three checks, and another with “100,000 times yes.” In all, 100 percent of the respondents answered positively.

The economic opportunity of clean energy was also the subject of a conference session moderated by the Roanoke Regional Chamber that attracted leaders of the Arlington, Bedford, Franklin-Southampton, Harrisonburg, Loudon County, Reston, and Radford chambers.

"Our chamber was pleased to moderate this conversation to explore how local chambers can attract new members and help existing ones save money with clean energy,” said Cally Smith, Vice President of Membership & Brand Strategy for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Following the conference, local chambers and member companies joined the Virginia Governor’s Advisor for Infrastructure and Development, Hayes Framme, for a conversation about the economic opportunities of clean energy. He invited chambers that want connect with the Virginia Division of Energy Agency to contact him at Hayes.Framme@governor.virginia.gov.

Tony Howard, President and CEO of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, kicked off the conversation with examples of how his chamber is helping his member companies prosper in the clean energy space.

In other related Virginia business developments:

• Microsoft announced an innovative public-private partnership with the Commonwealth and Dominion Virginia Power that will bring 20 megawatts of new solar energy, or enough to power 5,000 homes, onto the grid.

• McAuliffe also recently announced that he believes Amazon, Google, and Microsoft will only do business in states that can provide renewable energy to power their operations.”