Middlesex Chamber’s Innovative Financing Program to Boost Local Jobs, Profits and Investment

Businesses everywhere are looking to save money when it comes to energy costs. In response, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Connecticut Green Bank to help member businesses afford energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades. Together they are promoting a clean energy financing tool called Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, or C-PACE. This innovative solution provides long-term, low interest financing to help local building owners take control of their energy costs. With 100% financing, no upfront cost required, and terms of up to 25 years available through C-PACE, energy upgrades are more affordable and accessible than ever.

"We're always looking for an opportunity to provide value to our members," says Jeff Pugliese, Vice President of the Middlesex Chamber. "The partnership with the Connecticut Green Bank was a no-brainer.  C-PACE helps local businesses save money on their energy bills and reinvest this money into other parts of the business. When businesses thrive, it can help spur economic development and support job creation," he added.

Earlier this year, the Green Bank announced that Connecticut's C-PACE program had helped over 200 Connecticut building owners with more than $114 million in clean energy financing, making the state's program second only to California's C-PACE program in terms of clean energy financing. And C-PACE is just one of the Green Bank programs that have helped attract more than $1 billion in investment into the Connecticut economy and created more than 13,000 jobs.

"The key is to have great partners like the Middlesex Chamber, which understands that C-PACE is a terrific opportunity to help their members," says Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Programs at the Connecticut Green Bank. "Energy costs and building improvements are often one of the biggest challenges that Chamber members face. C-PACE can be the answer."

With C-PACE, building owners can enjoy the advantages of energy upgrades immediately and pay for them over time. It's a safe investment that produces returns immediately and for years to come.

Middlesex Chamber member Galleria Stone and Tile used C-PACE financing to install a 125kw solar photovoltaic installation while building a new factory last summer. "With this new solar installation, our energy costs have remained pretty much flat, even though we've expanded dramatically," says Rich Yuris, CFO of Galleria.

Interested in learning more about C-PACE, or want to partner with an established C-PACE program in your state? Contact Jessica Bergman at (jbergman@sfchamber.com) for more information.

See what PACE programs are available in your state at http://pacenation.us/ 

Pictured up top from left to right, are: Larry McHugh, President, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce; Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Commercial and Industrial Programs, Connecticut Green Bank; Robert Schmitt, Associate Manager, Marketing, Connecticut Green Bank; and Jeff Pugliese, Vice President, Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

Growing Economic Opportunities Would Flow from Clean Energy Bill, Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber CEO Says

"The bipartisan clean energy financing bill [recently signed into law] by Gov. Tom Wolf will grow jobs, save businesses money -- and, best of all, it won’t cost taxpayers anything,” Chris Heck, CEO of the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, recently wrote in The Pittsburgh Business Times. The bill was cosponsored by Sen. Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny/ Washington) and Sen. Blake (D-Lackawana).

Read Heck's op-ed below.

Viewpoint: Clean-energy financing bill good for business

By Chris Heck

June 8, 2018

I’ll be frank. I’m an unapologetic advocate of what’s good for business and economic development in the Pittsburgh airport area. I’m immensely proud of our entire region’s efforts to become a center of world-class innovation. And when I see a “win-win” opportunity for business, economic development and this region, I consider it my mission and privilege to support it.

The clean energy-financing bill headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk is one of these winning and welcome opportunities. It will grow jobs, save businesses money, and, best of all, it won’t cost taxpayers anything.

Senate Bill 234, co-sponsored by Sen. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny/ Washington), would establish a program that makes sense by enabling more businesses to take advantage of cost-saving energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.

This bipartisan legislation was overwhelmingly passed on the Senate floor earlier this year. And on May 23, the House also passed it by a wide 163-28 margin.

Known as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, or C-PACE, this bill would allow municipalities to establish voluntary programs to allow financing for energy upgrades with no upfront costs on new and existing buildings. They simply pay the loan back, over up to 20 years, as a portion of their property tax bill.

For commercial building owners, this means gaining the opportunity to access the growing number of clean energy innovations that can help them save on energy costs and increase the value of their properties.

For our region, it means more economic vitality and more jobs. An estimated 70,000 Pennsylvanians worked in energy efficiency and renewable energy in 2016, up 6 percent from 2015. Nearly half of these jobs are in the construction industry, and about one in five are in the construction industry, and about one in five are in manufacturing.

As recently as a decade ago, our region suffered as globalization and technology eroded the manufacturing industries that once defined us. Between 1970 and 1990, the City of Pittsburgh lost an estimated 100,000 steel jobs and unemployment hit a high of 18 percent.

But that was then. And this is now. Our region has been thriving because we have chosen not to look back but forward.

As the voice of the businesses in 34 communities across the Pittsburgh airport region, I know the value of innovation in this great area. I also know that it makes sense to seize every good, forward-thinking opportunity in front of us, including the one now awaiting signature on the governor’s desk.

Chris Heck is the president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce.

PA Senator, Geisinger Brief Local Chambers on Three New Bills

Pennsylvania’s Innovative Culture Continues

To some, Pennsylvania may be best known for its great historical significance—as home of the Liberty Bell and the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the U.S. Constitution drawn up.

But Pennsylvania has an equally strong history of innovation: being home to the nation’s first baseball stadium, first commercial broadcast station, and the world’s first high-speed, multi-lane highway to name just a few examples.

So perhaps not surprisingly a growing number of Pennsylvania leaders are now taking steps to seize the growing economic opportunities in energy innovation.

“This is a win-win for everyone,” PA Sen. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny/Washington) said in a recent briefing call with Local Chamber of Commerce Leaders from across the Keystone State.

Sen. Reschenthaler is a co-sponsor Senate Bill 234, which would allow municipalities to establish voluntary programs to provide financing for energy upgrades without any upfront costs.  Known as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE), property owners re-pay the financing through a property assessment. C-PACE is offered in enabling legislation is active in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.  

SB 234 was overwhelmingly passed on the Senate floor 42-8 and is now being considered by the House Commerce Committee. Sen. Reschenthaler asked that Chamber leaders contact their legislators to voice their support. Read more about C-PACE.

“It’s about job creation in high paying fields such as electrical contractors, excavating, general construction, engineering, and so on,” Sen. Reschenthaler said. “It will lower energy costs for local businesses, increasing competitiveness.” Importantly, he added, the program uses funds from private institutions, not taxpayer dollars.

Asked why he became interested in CPACE, Reschenthaler said because he believes in energy independence and knows that renewables help contribute to that.

Geisinger Savings Through Efficiency

Co-hosted by the Columbia Montour Chamber, the briefing call was also an opportunity for Local Chamber leaders to hear from Geisinger Health, the largest health system in Pennsylvania, about how they are saving with energy efficiency.

“Energy is one of these topics that can benefit everyone,” said Al Neuner, VP of Facility Operations at Geisinger Health System. As a result of its investments in energy efficiency, Geisinger Hospital has saved $15 million in energy costs, Neuner said.

“And businesses do not have to be as large as Geisinger to benefit from energy efficiency—he noted, adding that it is very scalable and no-risk. Watch a video about Geisinger’s energy efficiency program.

“One of the things we can do as chambers is to play the role of conveyor and bring our business members, the community, the utility, and workforce development organizations together to exchange information so that clean energy, and clean energy workforce training is more relatable to all of our businesses and community members,” said Fred Gaffney, President of the Columbia Montour Chamber.

“There are people and resources there to help you pay for this,” he said, referring to Act 129, a law passed in 2008 to encourage energy efficiency and provides rebates for new appliances, lighting and windows and energy audits. Read more about Act 129.

A 2017 Public Utility Commission study found that Act 129 has delivered $6.4 billion in benefits for all electric consumers to date.

Growing Solar Jobs in PA

The speakers also briefed Local Chamber leaders on the recently passed Act 40, the Solar Jobs bill, aiming to limit state payments to out of state projects and grow jobs here in PA.

Ron Celentano, President of Pennsylvania’s Solar Energy Industry Association told the audience that up to 70 percent of the solar energy purchased in the state was coming from outside the state, said.

The new Solar Jobs bill corrected this by requiring that the solar come from within Pennsylvania.

“We see this as a great opportunity to have more solar jobs created within the state,” Celentano said. “And we’ve been seeing growth of solar jobs already since the passage.”

The call was co-hosted by the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy will continue to keep you informed as these issues move forward.  

Learn more: Post-Gazette

CT Chambers Host Sen. Winfield and CT Green Bank President on Briefing Call

Green Bank says “Bring your projects, we have capital!”

Senator Winfield, (D-New Haven) co-chairs the Banking Committee, and the Energy and Technology Committee.

Here are his key messages to local chambers:

Sen. Winfield

• “If Connecticut wants to stay competitive in a region that is increasingly adopting clean energy, we need better policies.”

• “There are a lot of economic opportunities out there if we open ourselves to renewables.”

• “Renewable energy sources tend to generate more jobs and that means more economic activity and more opportunities.”

• “I think it’s great that the state is looking to get renewables to 40 percent, but I do think a more ambitious goal—something along the lines of 50 percent—also makes a lot of sense.”

The Senator, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader, made his comments during a February briefing call co-hosted by the two largest Local Chambers of Commerce in the state, Middlesex and Greater New Haven, in partnership with Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.

“These issues are really important to me and to our chamber,” said Garrett Sheehan, incoming President and CEO of the Greater New Haven Chamber. “They are going to take a collaborative approach, and a key step is education, which is something calls like this provide.”

“Bring your projects, we have capital”

There is plenty of money available to finance cost-saving clean energy upgrades, said the Connecticut Green Bank’s President Bryan Garcia.

Bryan Garcia

“We are focused on driving and attracting more investment in clean energy because those are the foundations to economic growth and job creation,” Garcia said. One important tool for doing this is through a program known as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy or C-PACE.

“C-PACE is an innovative and affordable way for businesses, manufacturing, and nonprofits to pay for clean energy improvements. It pays for 100 percent of the project costs with no money down,” said Garcia, adding: “It immediately increases cash flow while improving the overall value of the building.”

The Middlesex Chamber of Commerce recently teamed up with the Green Bank to bring C-PACE to its members. (Stay tuned for more information.)

“Energy is a critical issue to all our members and our Chamber, and we’re seeing C-PACE get more and more traction,” said Jeff Pugliese, Vice President of the Middlesex Chamber. 

Sen. Winfield asked Local Chambers to voice their clean energy support to their legislators, saying:

 “Chambers have a lot of influence in this building and have a lot of business owners who have influence. That influence should be used to express to legislators that clean energy funds will benefit the state of Connecticut.” He added, “It is not even a bipartisan issue, it is a nonpartisan issue.”

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) will continue to keep you informed as these issues move forward. If your chamber is interested in learning more about how your members can benefit from C-PACE financing, contact Jessica Bergman of CICE at Jessica@ChambersforInnovation.com.

Bridgeport Chamber Cheers Project Expected to Deliver $3 Million in Tax Revenue

The Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC), like the largest city in Connecticut it represents, is no stranger to the connection between a chamber’s mission of advancing economic development and today’s growing opportunities in clean energy.

The BRBC has long been out front on the creation of a national urban model for renewable energy generation and green business development known as Bridgeport Eco-Technology Park.

It has been a leader in helping member businesses save on energy costs through an innovative financing program known as CT Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) that allows property owners to access affordable, long-term financing for clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades that can lower energy costs.

And now it is supporting a new plan to make Bridgeport the first city in the nation to install an innovative, reliable, and cost-effective energy technology known as a thermal loop that will convert waste heat into heating and hot water and distribute it through a network of underground pipes.

"We are very excited for Bridgeport to continue to lead by example in supporting clean energy projects like the thermal loop,” said Jeff Bishop, Executive Director of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce, an Affiliate Chamber of the BRBC and Business Growth and Retention Director at the BRBC.

“The Bridgeport Regional Business Council recognizes the importance clean energy has on local economic development and job creation,” he added. “We will continue to support the City in their quest to revitalize our business community." 

The project received the 2016 Mayors Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and is projected to begin construction by the end of 2018.

Once the entire thermal loop network is completed, the project will bring in about $130 million in privately funded economic development and generate roughly $3 million in property tax revenue to the city on an annual basis, according to State Rep. Steve Stafstrom.

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said: “The city prides itself on being a leader in sustainable efforts. The beauty of [the thermal loop] is the simplicity. It makes good environmental sense while saving money.”

Learn more: “Bridgeport Takes Green Energy Lead with Thermal Loop”

Chambers Learn About Numerous Rebates for Electric Vehicles

Have you ever driven an electric vehicle (EV) or learned how affordable they can be? A growing number of our chamber peers have been doing just that.

Kathy Brady, Executive Director, South Windsor Chamber

At the recent annual meeting of the New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (NEACCE), more than 40 local chamber leaders had the opportunity to put their foot to the pedal of Chevy Bolts and Volts—marking the conference’s second annual EV Ride-and-Drive.

“I never knew how many rebates existed for electric vehicles at the state and federal level and now want to have a ride-and-drive at one of our upcoming chamber events,” said Kathy Brady, Executive Director of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

Local chamber leaders attending the conference also had the opportunity to learn about other clean energy opportunities and policies that help chambers and their member businesses save money, attract investments, and grow jobs.

Among them:

• Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): An innovative financing mechanism to help businesses finance renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades at no up-front cost. (Learn more from PACENation.)

• The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): A policy designed to drive clean energy development, attract investments, and grow jobs.

• Energy Storage: a key component of 21st century energy systems that increases reliability and reduces energy costs by capturing energy produced through solar or wind power and making it available when it is later needed, such as during peak demand times.

In June 2018, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and NEACCE will partner on a boat tour to visit the offshore wind farm off Block Island, Rhode Island. Stay tuned for more information

Pictured at top: Tom O'Rourke, President & CEO, Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce; Chris Cooney, President & CEO, MetroSouth Chamber of Commerce; Roy Nascimento, President & CEO, North Central MA Chamber of Commerce.

More Than 60 Local Chamber Leaders Learn How Clean Energy Policies Benefit Their Member Companies

At the recent Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) conference, more than 60 local chamber leaders discovered how energy efficiency, home-grown solar energy, and innovative finance mechanisms can help save member companies money, and attract more investment and jobs to the Keystone state. 

Highlights include:

• Energy efficiency: A practice that helps member companies save money every year.

  • Read how Geisinger Health System is saving millions of dollars per year.

  • Watch Geisinger's video on how they are saving with Act 129.

• The Solar Border Bill: A bill recently passed the PA legislature that prioritizes the purchase of PA solar energy over the solar energy in neighboring states. This legislation will create more solar jobs and investment by closing a loophole that had PA ratepayers subsidizing solar energy and job creation in nearby states. This is important to the many chambers with member companies that sell, manufacture parts, or produce solar infrastructure.

• Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): An innovative new financing mechanism that has been proposed to allow PA businesses to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades at no up-front cost. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., currently have PACE programs; and there is PACE legislation in 33 states.  

  • The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) bill, also known as SB 234, is co-sponsored by Sens. Blake (D-22) and Reschenthaler (R-37). 

  • Read about the $340 million in financing over the last seven years.

Local chambers also learned more about what chambers across Pennsylvania are doing to help their members thrive in the clean energy space. See:

• PA Local Chambers Co-host Geisinger Tour with Legislators, Learn How Energy Efficiency Saves $15 Million Annually

• Central PA Chamber Grows Popular Energy Savings Program

• PA Local Chamber CEO Meets Legislators, Shares Support for Clean Energy

Interested in learning more about how your chamber can benefit from the economic development opportunities of clean energy? Contact Kelly Henderson at khenderson@sfchamber.com.

MA Lawmakers Discuss New Energy Legislation with Local Chambers

Massachusetts chambers and their member companies had an engaging dialogue with Rep. Golden (D – Lowell) and Sen. Pacheco (D – Taunton) on a Sept. 20th briefing call to learn more about the recently passed energy legislation, An Act to Promote Energy Diversity (H4568). Both legislators played key roles in the new legislation and are preparing for additional steps in 2017.

The major takeaways from the call were:

• The legislation aims to create a new offshore-wind industry in MA. The bill calls for 1600 MG of offshore wind energy and positions the Bay State to attract the investment and jobs associated with this new industry. Job growth is expected in the construction of the wind energy sites as well as in the manufacturing supply chain.  States along the eastern seaboard are vying to attract these investments.

• The energy storage provision in the legislation is a “game changer.”  Storing energy in batteries and other innovative technologies will help to lower energy costs and increase the reliability of the grid.

• The pairing of hydro and wind energy will result in the efficient utilization of transmission lines, which will help to lower costs.

• The legislation allows for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE), a 100% voluntary finance mechanism that covers the up-front cost of energy improvements on commercial properties.

• This bill is just a first step and sets the framework for future legislation.

Both legislators said they will work on clean energy legislation in 2017 that will continue to move the Commonwealth into the future. Stay tuned!

To learn more about the legislation, click here.

26 Local Chambers in CT, and Governor, Show Strong Interest in Clean Energy

Breaking new ground, 26 local chambers of commerce—half of all chambers across Connecticut—gathered this month for a conversation about clean energy with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the Connecticut Green Bank, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“Local chambers of commerce play an important role in helping Connecticut continue to prosper from the growing economic development opportunities of cleaner, cheaper, more reliable energy,” said Gov. Malloy.

Rich Brown, Vice President of the MetroHartford Alliance chamber and event cohost said: “We see clean energy as a great economic development opportunity that helps us retrain and attract businesses.”

As a result of the event:

“We have a growing number of member companies already working in clean energy, including our utilities, and more that are diversifying to capture the market for energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy.”

— Rich Brown, VP Investor Relations, MetroHartford Alliance

• Nearly a dozen local chambers signed up to work with the Green Bank to inform their member businesses about affordable, long-term financing options through the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program.

• The Hartford Chamber and Connecticut Economic Development Association kicked off this educational effort within a week of the event by bringing the Green Bank to its lunch- and-learn series.

• Several chambers signed up to learn more about Connecticut’s new 2016 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) to project future energy needs, ensure reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) also invited chambers to comment on the draft CES, which is expected to be released this fall.

“The voice of business has significant influence on our legislative discussion about energy efficiency,” added DEEP Deputy Commissioner Katie Scharf Dykes.” Sending your input in writing is invaluable to increasing funding for these programs and ensuring availability throughout the year.”

In addition to the MetroHartford Alliance, the event was cohosted by the Greater New Haven Chamber, Connecticut Green Bank, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.

Pictured at top: Mackey Dykes, Vice President for C&I Programs, Connecticut Green Bank; Rebecca Nolan, Vice President, Global & Domestic Business Development, MetroHartford Alliance; CT Governor Dan Malloy; Jessica Bergman, New England Programs and Engagement Director, Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy; Katie Dykes, Deputy Commissioner for Energy, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Tony Rescigno, President and CEO, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce; Rich Brown, Vice President of Investor Relations, MetroHartford Alliance.