Chambers for Innovation 12/30/22 Chambers for Innovation 12/30/22

FACP Panel Discussion: Are Clean Energy Companies Members of Your Chamber?

The number of clean energy companies is growing and will accelerate in 2023 with new federal funding - are these companies members of your chamber?

Too often, chambers of commerce struggle to engage companies in new industries. This is very true, we’ve found, for chambers when it comes to the explosion of new clean energy companies.

But some chambers have developed unique and compelling ways to bring such companies into their membership to help them grow and reach their business goals. Whether these are start-ups, mature clean energy companies, or companies developing new innovations in clean energy, chambers are finding success in recruiting and retaining them throughout Florida (and the country).

At the recent statewide Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) hosted a panel of chamber and business executives to talk about their initiatives with clean energy companies.

The panelists included:

Rebekah Arthur, IOM, president & CEO, Seminole County Chamber
Jacki Dezelski, IOM, president & CEO, Manatee Chamber of Commerce
Dan Lindblade, CAE, president & CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Gritter, executive vice president, Solcium Solar

Electric Vehicle Industry Panel

The panel came about after the Seminole County Chamber partnered with CICE on a panel discussion about the electric vehicle industry. Because of that event, the Seminole Chamber brought in some key members in the industry.

Solcium Solar, for example, is a newer member of the Seminole County Chamber.

“We can engage with other like-minded companies because the chamber convenes conversations around topics like ours,” Gritter says.

It’s also a way to help educate the public about their industry.

Gritter adds: “It’s not lost on us how many misconceptions there are about solar and it’s unfortunate that clean energy is politicized - given the economic opportunity”.

Clean Energy & Resilience Pitch Contest

In Fort Lauderdale, Lindblade has been at the forefront of embracing clean energy and other technologies that will help South Florida become more resilient. In fact, he left immediately after the discussion to attend the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit.

One of his key efforts in this realm is a pitch contest for companies in this field.

“You can monetize an event on renewable energy,” he said. “Clean energy companies will sponsor events like this and members will pay to attend them.”

Natural Resources Committee

At the Manatee County Chamber, the chamber started a Natural Resources Committee several years ago that addresses the interests of many clean energy companies. One thing they do is take tours to facilities connected to clean energy businesses and that affect the natural resources of the community.

Supply Chain to Clean Energy

Of course, Dezelski adds that chambers should be paying attention to not only clean energy companies themselves, but also to the companies providing support to the companies.

“It’s one more opportunity to support small businesses, and in many cases, they benefit from the same chamber deliverables as many small businesses,” she added.

Finding clean energy companies is not always easy. They are often working to develop the next great technology or finding the right location for their facility. They often don’t seek public attention.

That’s why Arthur said it will take work but look at local incubators for potential new companies that will become major companies in your community.

“These are filled with fast growing companies and you want to pay attention,” she said. “It’s up to the chamber to make the connection.”

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.

Chambers for Innovation 11/18/22 Chambers for Innovation 11/18/22

St. Petersburg Recognizes Connection Between Sustainability and Business Success as Winter Park Chamber Offers Keynote Address

On October 25, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Florida Environmental Defense Fund co-hosted the first Sustainability Leadership Forum and Awards Ceremony.

As one of the most vulnerable cities in America to climate change, St. Petersburg’s business leaders were looking for a way to recognize those organizations in the city leading on sustainability.

At the event, the organizations recognized three companies and heard from Betsy Gardner Eckbert, president/CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

“The companies we recognized today are leading our community’s efforts in sustainability and ensuring the future of our city is as great as our present,” says Jason Mathis, CEO, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. “Having Betsy set the stage, with her community’s connection between sustainability and prosperity was a great lesson for us all to hear.”

The Winter Park Chamber, located outside of Orlando, was recently featured in a “Chambers in Action” story because of its focus on sustainability in its Prosperity Scorecard.

During her keynote address, Gardner Eckbert discussed tri-sector leadership and how Winter Park engaged businesses, local government, and nonprofits in her community to tackle the issue of sustainability and climate change.

“Tri-sector leadership is required for change because change is tough,” Gardner Eckbert says. “You have to engage all of the stakeholders and embed change for it to last. This kind of change must be normalized and embedded and picked up by all the sectors.”

After Gardner Eckbert’s talk, the group recognized three local businesses for Sustainability Leadership, showcasing the positive work being done by community and business leaders throughout Pinellas County.

Businesses of all sizes were eligible and the selection process focused on innovation related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, structural preservation, water conservation, water quality, electric vehicles and more.

“From the level of companies we recognized to the fabulous advice given by Betsy, we are extremely pleased with the results of this inaugural event,” says Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director, Environmental Defense Fund. “These leaders understand that sustainability growth makes economic sense and we hope others will be inspired by their stories to embrace these forward thinking and lucrative practices.”

Award Winners:

Institutional Award

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, operating the region’s transit system with a focus on converting to electric buses. In March 2021, the organization released its first Sustainability Strategic Plan.

Retail Award

Brick Street Farms, an urban farming company that has developed containers producing 16 acres to 20 acres of crops on 1/3 of an acre of land.

Developer Award

Stoneweg U.S., a multifamily real estate investment company with a goal of reducing its portfolio’s site Energy Use Intensity by 15% by 2025.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.

Also, if you would like to donate time or money in support of FL’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, you can do so via this link at the Florida State Chamber of Commerce website.

Chambers for Innovation 10/26/22 Chambers for Innovation 10/26/22

Texas Works Towards a Clean Energy Economy, Helping Communities Across the State, Regardless of Political Opinions on the Industry

Texas, most commonly known for their oil and gas production, has been investing big on clean energy generation, in fact the red state is leading the country in wind energy generation and second only to left leaning California.

San Angelo is a rural Texas community, rich in farmland, some of which has been converted to solar fields and wind turbine developments. Area farmers and landowners are receiving substantial income from leasing their land to renewable energy companies/developers.

The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce has had a hand in recruiting energy companies to develop at least nine solar and wind farms near their small town. “They’re providing a really strong revenue source,” said Michael Looney, head of economic development for the San Angelo Chamber. The San Angelo community seemed open to the new projects, despite clean energy not always being well received in other communities across the country. “They (renewable energy projects) have some political pushback in certain communities that find them to be not a really good fit, but in Tom Green County we found that it was a perfect fit.”

In Texas, clean energy can be political and polarizing. In reality, it’s generating new jobs and investments for communities across the state that are projected to do so for decades to come. In fact, red states like Texas, more so than blue states, are projected to see billions of dollars of investment thanks to the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act

The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce is a great example of a chamber being the voice of business. Without making it political, clean energy can benefit the entire country with new, high paying jobs, manufacturing opportunities, and billions of dollars in investments.

Watch the full story here

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Ryan Evans.

Chambers for Innovation 9/13/22 Chambers for Innovation 9/13/22

Winter Park Chamber leads community sustainability with innovative prosperity scorecard

Winter Park is one of Central Florida’s more desirable communities. It’s home to a top private college with an established shopping and dining area downtown. Its business community is engaged, led by multigenerational family residents, but filled with fresh voices and faces.

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce has been a staple of the community since 1923, sharing its offices with the city’s Welcome Center in the heart of the community.

When COVID-19 hit, the Winter Park Chamber, like so many others, mobilized to work on a multitude of issues outside of the typical purview of a chamber, even creating an Economic Recovery Task Force.

“We became aware of needs that we didn’t traditionally look at, like poverty and food insecurity,” says the chamber’s president/CEO, Betsy Gardner Eckbert, IOM. “Afterward, we thought we needed to create a tool measuring total prosperity where everyone could plug in and see the factors that create prosperity.”

The Winter Park Prosperity Scorecard launched earlier this year. While it has the traditional aspects of prosperity models – employment, industry types, housing costs, social services – it also includes measures on sustainability and clean energy, specifically:

Public electric vehicle charging units (38 units)
Percentage of city fleet that is electric (six percent)
Breakdown of renewable/clean energy mix under city utility portfolio (20 percent)
Number of annual solar permits (residential and commercial) in the city (45 permits)

“We like going to places that align with our community,” Gardner Eckbert says. “We’re focused on incentivizing the private sector by showcasing our successes and leading in this space.”

The chamber and its leadership know sustainability efforts can be improved. The community of 25,000 residents count its embrace of solar electricity for homes and businesses as a success. But the city-owned electric utility only purchased renewable energy for 20 percent of its wholesale power.

“If you’re going to be sustainable, you want to use renewable energy for your electric vehicles,” she says. “We’d like to see strategic planning on how to grow that mix of wholesale power – we think that percentage should be much higher.”

Gardner Eckbert believes leading on the issue of sustainability should be part of any chamber’s plan. With a background in corporate governance for multinational businesses, she has personally seen how companies that embrace sustainability usually have better financial results.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.

Chambers for Innovation 8/9/22 Chambers for Innovation 8/9/22

AZ Op-Ed: Corporate Sector Can Lead the Way in Securing Arizona's Clean Energy Future

This opinion piece was co-authored by Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute and Robin S. Reed, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona and co-founder and principal of EmFluent, LLC. This editorial was published by the Phoenix Business Journal on July 29, 2022, and later shared on Arizona Tech Council's blog on August 4, 2022.

For several years, the corporate sector — with technology companies often leading the way — has set carbon emission goals and developed strategies to attain these. Most recently, this has moved from a differentiator to “the price of entry.” With increased public concern about climate change and Moody's Analytics already providing tools to assess a company’s climate risk, the business community’s attention to lowering emissions is intensifying even further.

As examples, here are just a few of the pledges that Arizona Technology Council member companies have made:

American Express has a goal of net-zero emissions by 2035 in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative.
Intel commits to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its global operations by 2040.
Lyft announced their commitment to reach 100% electric vehicles (EVs) used on the Lyft platform by 2030 since transportation currently accounts for the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for the Aviation Department electricity use by 2030 through renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades and utility partnerships.

Since 2014, corporate procurement has represented 37% of the carbon-free energy added to the U.S. grid and nearly every year companies have increased their renewable energy purchasing over the previous year. As corporate demand for renewable energy intensifies, Arizona needs to respond so we continue making our state business friendly. But what does this mean in terms of actions we can take?

Attracting more investment dollars – The states with the most ambitious clean-energy goals attract the most investment dollars and, therefore, tax dollars to their states. According to Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy’s Arizona Clean Energy Jobs and Economic Impact Report, Arizona has secured $15 billion in clean investments. But as a top-rated state for solar generation potential, we need to push for more investments by first developing policies that allow expanded utility-scale development, expand corporate procurement options and capture the value that rooftop solar can bring to the grid. Why should Vermont or Utah, generally more snowy climates, generate a higher percentage of electricity from solar than Arizona?

Working directly with our utilities and regulators – Independent of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), major energy providers have set carbon reduction and renewable generation goals. Tucson Electric Power plans to have 70% renewable power by 2035; Arizona Public Service (APS) expects to provide 100% clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050; and Salt River Project (SRP) targets cutting carbon intensity 90% by 2050. Let’s promote and support these efforts and encourage the ACC to set consistent and ambitious goals.

Supporting our transition to electric vehicles – As the world and Arizona convert to EVs, we need to be ready to power these cars with clean and renewable electricity and support the significant and expanding EV industry in our state. Arizona is home to Lucid Motors, Nikola Motor, ElectraMeccanica, Zero Electric Vehicles, Atlis Motor Vehicles and more. These companies have also attracted an impressive supply chain industry that includes lithium-ion battery company KORE Power, battery recycling company Li-Cycle and parts manufacturer UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries. Not only are these manufacturers requiring more renewables to power their manufacturing, but consumers want renewables to power their cars.

Centering the expansion of clean energy in equity – There is a long history of reinforcing patterns of inequality, particularly on the basis of race. From building highways through the heart of urban neighborhoods to redlining that created segregated communities, past public policy decisions have led to disparities that negatively impact quality of life in terms of education, economic stability and availability of transportation. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, an initiative that provides background, guidance and funding to help the U.S. reach its goal of 500,000 EV chargers nationwide by 2030, provides a massive national opportunity to build a national EV charging network that can create a different future. A future that emphasizes process equity through intentional inclusion of historically underserved communities, and a path forward that elevates and benefits communities in every part of town.

Taking these steps will not only benefit our climate but Arizona’s vibrant economic growth and stability in the long term.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Anne Feldhusen.

Chambers for Innovation 7/8/22 Chambers for Innovation 7/8/22

Brooklyn Chamber (NY) holds Energy Summit and Expo

The Brooklyn (NY) Chamber of Commerce is positioned to be a leader in developing a clean energy economy, and recently hosted a Brooklyn Energy Summit and Expo to talk about the city’s clean energy future. The chamber brought together community innovators and leaders to focus on workforce development, and discuss energy efficiency and savings.

New York City has set many clean energy goals, including reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, using only clean electricity by 2040, and creating 1000 megawatts of solar energy by 2030. With ambitious goals, the city has implemented laws that require all new buildings to have solar panels. This may be easy for some new developments, but not all corners of the city can support the transition all at once, and cities like Brooklyn are looking to become innovative and impactful in trying to meet clean energy goals and standards.

The summit included a panel discussion with leaders in the industry and community, with the focus to discuss Brooklyn’s biggest struggles to meet climate goals. The panel included leaders from:

Con-Ed
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Equinor
U.S. Energy Storage Development
National Grid
Reflective Energy Solutions
American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)
Slow Factory

A keynote presentation was given by Mark Chambers, senior director for building emissions and community resilience at the White House Council on environmental quality.

At the heart of the discussion was the Build Back Better Act which will aid in clean energy development and EV infrastructure. With new development comes new job opportunities and room for economic growth in the Brooklyn community. “The goal is to engage in a community wide and community focused conversation on how we are going to undertake this massive cultural, technological and practical shift in the energy space. We need a workforce, a skilled workforce that’s going to be able to implement a lot of this change,” said Randy Peers, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “In Brooklyn, we’ve cultivated a lot in the energy-tech sector, so I think Brooklyn can be a nation leader in the energy transition.”

The Brooklyn Chamber is a leading example of a chamber of commerce claiming their seat at the table, and being at the forefront of clean energy discussions, while sitting at the crossroads of workforce development, environmental justice, and adaptivity to the clean energy transition.

Chambers for Innovation 6/27/22 Chambers for Innovation 6/27/22

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce - Renewable Energy Working Group, Clean Energy Panel, Transportation Innovation

According to their mission statement, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to fostering the growth and prosperity of the business community, while nurturing the quality of life for all those who live, visit and work on the sanctuary islands.

The Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Energy Working Group, a recently formed initiative, is a perfect demonstration of this mission. Chamber CEO John Lai, is one of several involved community leaders connecting local government, utilities, and the business community to develop actions needed to mitigate climate change by setting and pursuing clean energy goals.

Powering Our Green Future: A Community Conversation, a recent event hosted by the Chamber, in partnership with the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, was spurred by one of the initiatives of the working group- to engage and inform island residents, local government and the business community about the opportunities with clean and renewable energy. The panel included experts from local educational institutions, the business community, utilities, and government and drew more than 100 attendees.

As well as co-hosting, John Lai was one of the presenters. He discussed the economic opportunity associated with clean energy and shared information from CICE’s Florida Jobs and Economic Impact Report. A few clean energy highlights include:

Florida has 150K clean energy jobs (and growing)
Clean energy generates $39.7 million in annual property, state, and local taxes via renewable energy projects

Climate and clean energy polling was conducted with the attendees asking several questions to help identify community priorities. In terms of the problems associated with climate change, they cited sea level rise (25%), storms and storm surge (24%), and impacts on water quality and harmful algal blooms (22%). When asked about energy solutions, the community prioritized solar technologies, alternate forms of transportation including electric vehicles, and conservation of energy/reduction of energy demand.

Electrified autonomous vehicles and EV infrastructure are a priority for the chamber as well. The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is currently exploring ways to use electrified autonomous vehicles to alleviate congestion and how to expand the number of EV charging stations on the islands.

If you would like to learn more about navigating clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Anne Feldhusen.

Chambers for Innovation 6/24/22 Chambers for Innovation 6/24/22

FL Clean Energy - Powering Workforce Development

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) partnered with the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals to present a panel discussion, ‘Clean Energy - Powering Workforce Development’ at FACP’s bi-annual meeting on May 11, 2022. The panel included:

Britta Gross, Orlando Utilities Commissioner
Adrian Brand, Sales and Experience Center Manager, Arcimoto
Racquel Asa, Chief Marketing Officer, BEEP
Don Long, Co-host and CEO, Lake Nona Regional Chamber

The panel, moderated by CICE’s Alan Byrd, discussed how rapid growth of the clean energy sector presents economic opportunity in Florida and how critical it is to have a workforce with the right skills and training in order to attract clean energy companies to both urban and rural areas. A key message for the audience of chamber of commerce executives, was to keep in mind that from June to August, hundreds of millions in federal funding will flow into Florida thanks to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). That funding can be used for transit and clean energy advanced manufacturing, and approximately $200M is coming to the Florida Department of Transportation for EV Charging alone.

Additional key takeaways from the discussion:

Supply Chain and Investment: Britta Gross of the Orlando Utilities Commission emphasized, “This is a moment in time - if we don’t jump on board, we’ll lose significant GDP - due to global competition. There is urgency and a need to manufacture chips and batteries in the US.” This presents an opportunity for Florida as auto manufacturers make multi-billion investment in EVs.

Chamber Innovation Insight: Panel co-host and CEO of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber Don Long said that Florida communities need to demonstrate they are ‘willing to innovate’. The entrepreneurial culture built in Lake Nona sends this message. Don urged communities to ‘look at forming a cluster of clean energy companies.”

Key Economic Impact for Businesses: Britta Gross provided additional compelling statistics. “By 2030 50% of cars sold will be EVs and 100% by 2035. I’d recommend looking at tourist spots where people want to spend time and install chargers at resorts. For every one minute a person spends in a store while their car is charging, they will spend $1. With a level 2 charger, they may be in a retail location for 50 minutes and will spend $50. See who is willing to raise their hand for having chargers on their property. Be a matchmaker and start to marry the chargers to your member businesses and property owners.”

First and Last Mile Innovation: BEEP has the longest running autonomous vehicle network in the US. According to Racquel Asa of BEEP, “We are solving the first and last mile problem and improving transit’. Racquel went on to say “workforce development is significant for us at BEEP. One of our employees started as a shuttle operator and is now an autonomous vehicle support engineer’.

Workforce Development: EV manufacturer Arcimoto, maker of a three-wheel and very affordable vehicle, brought one of their cars to the conference. The car has a range of 100 miles and can travel up to 75 miles per hour. According to Adrian Brand, “We need a workforce that is passionate about our product”.

The panelists all provided actionable and practical steps for chambers to capture economic opportunity. If you are interested in any of the above takeaways, speakers, or learning more about the workforce and supply chain opportunities of clean energy and resilience, please reach out to Anne or Alan.

If you would like to learn more about navigating clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.

Chambers for Innovation 6/9/22 Chambers for Innovation 6/9/22

Tucson Metro Chamber - Providing Leadership to the Growing Clean Energy Sector

With 56k clean energy jobs (and growing) and $15B in capital investment, there is tremendous business opportunity in Arizona’s clean energy sector. Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) recently published a report titled 'Arizona Clean Energy Jobs and Economic Impact' with even more details on this rapid growth. The Tucson Metro Chamber is a great example of a local chamber leveraging the area's historical business strengths while capitalizing on growth in new sectors.

Capturing solar energy

The Tucson Chamber membership includes many solar companies such as Solon, Saguaro, Solgen, Sunpro, and The Solar Store - to name just a few. So when software company Accela asked Michael Guymon, Tucson Chamber CEO, to join the steering committee for a new solar app, Michael was pleased to have the opportunity to support this important sector. According to Utility Drive, Accela’s recently released SolarAPP+ allows solar installers to complete permit applications online, reducing approval wait times from weeks to hours. Tucson residents are by far the most active users in Accela’s pilot program. According to Guymon, “Not only is this a great tool for residents, but it is being expanded to support commercial businesses as well”.

Rapid deployment of EVs and EV Chargers

With the rapid growth of EV sales and Arizona a major hub for EV manufacturing, the Tucson Metro Chamber is working with the City of Tucson to craft policies supporting EV drivers. The City of Tucson requires new residential construction be wired with the infrastructure needed for EV charging stations and is looking at a similar policy for new commercial construction. According to Michael Guymon, “As the City moves their discussions to the commercial sector, we want to make sure any ordinances or code amendments recognize the changes we anticipate in the EV marketplace. On top of this, we absolutely want to get as much of the federal funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for EV deployment as possible”.

The supply chain needed to support EVs and clean energy presents equally valuable opportunities. SunCorridor, Inc, southern Arizona’s economic development organization and partner to the Chamber, is leveraging the strength of existing businesses to recruit more jobs to the area. Copper mining is a major industry for Arizona with sixty percent of the nation’s copper coming from southern Arizona. Much copper is needed to support growth in electric vehicles (EVs) over the next decade. According to Guymon, “not only do the clean energy and mining sectors overlap, but also the tech sector. Five years ago, the Chamber, Sun Corridor, The Arizona Commerce Authority and several government partners recruited Caterpillar’s Surface Mining and Technology Division to Tucson thanks to our region’s strength in mining technology.”

Workforce Development

Chambers are keenly aware that attracting and retaining businesses requires a highly skilled workforce. The Tucson Chamber works with University of Arizona's Science & Technology Park innovation hubs to bring industry and research together to advance technology. The Park’s Solar Zone is one of the largest multi-technology solar testing and evaluation sites in the United States.

The Tucson Metro Chamber is in the unique position to integrate its long-standing businesses, clean energy startups, educational institutions, and skilled workforce in a way that brings much success to the Tucson economy.

If you would like to learn more about navigating clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Anne Feldhusen.

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Chambers for Innovation 3/4/22 Chambers for Innovation 3/4/22

Greensboro Chamber Helps Land the Billion Dollar Toyota Regional Megasite

The impact of Toyota’s announcement to build its first ever North American battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina was expressed with clarity by Brent Christensen, President & CEO of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. “When you have jobs like this, you change peoples’ lives,” said Christensen.

With a strong manufacturing backbone, Greensboro-Randolph Megasite was a prime location for the $1.29 billion investment. Toyota will catapult NC into the growing battery storage industry; creating close to 2,000 new, good paying jobs, and making an impressive contribution to a cleaner and healthier environment.

“Toyota’s decision to build a facility at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite validates the strength of this region’s labor force, infrastructure and our ability to build regional partnerships to get things done,” Christensen shared. “This is an exciting time for our region.”

Attracting Toyota to the megasite was a long time coming, and took many organizations, such as local government, utilities, colleges, and nonprofits to pull together to make the job-creating, investment-loaded opportunity come to life. The chamber played a key role in the siting and incentive package for the megasite, working alongside the Governor’s office and many others to make the Greensboro-Randolph area and North Carolina as appealing as possible for investors. “Economic development is a team sport,” says Christensen.

Chambers of commerce, as the voice of business, are always a key economic development ally and one of the strongest advocates for clean energy development. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is on its way in helping to build a clean energy economy and securing good paying jobs for its community and region.

Hear Brent Christensen on the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast describe what it was like to take part in landing Toyota’s first-ever US battery manufacturing plant.

If your chamber would like to learn more about

navigating clean energy opportunities in your community,

contact Susan Munroe for more information.

Chambers for Innovation 10/13/21 Chambers for Innovation 10/13/21

An Ohio Clean Energy Economy Emerges Delivering Steady Job Growth

The clean energy sector is one of Ohio’s leading employers. In fact, “More than twice as many Ohioans work in clean energy than the number of lawyers, accountants, auditors, web developers, and real estate agents combined.”

Clean energy jobs in Ohio span a wide range of industries including energy efficiency, renewables, advanced transportation, grid and storage, and clean fuels. As a whole, the clean energy sector, according to this year’s Clean Jobs Midwest analysis published by the Clean Energy Trust and E2, represents more than 103,000 jobs in the Buckeye State. Energy efficiency makes up 71 percent of the state’s clean energy related jobs while advanced transportation, building on previous years' increases, saw a 3 percent jobs increase. This makes advanced transportation the state’s fastest growing clean energy sector as companies like GM and Ford make significant commitments to electric vehicles (EVs).

No surprise, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on clean energy jobs across the nation in 2020, with Ohio specifically, losing 10,951 clean energy jobs, representing the first decline in years. State policy also had an impact on the decline, unfortunately. Ohio’s House Bill 6, which eliminated energy efficiency standards, can be attributed to Ohio’s biggest drop in the energy efficiency industry, totaling 9,874 jobs.

Despite the pandemic and adverse state policies, the industry saw a dramatic bounce back, growing 10.1 percent the second half of the year, rebounding quicker than the overall Ohio workforce.

Small towns in Ohio are big winners in the clean energy industry, with more than 15,700 jobs located in rural areas. Additionally, as chambers well know, small businesses typically make up the majority of its membership directories and clean energy follows that same model. Small businesses helped fuel the state’s clean energy sector last year, with 62 percent of Ohio’s clean energy businesses employing fewer than 20 people.

The transition to a clean energy economy in Ohio is expected to steadily grow providing good-paying opportunities for job seekers, including those in underserved communities. Additionally, chamber member businesses from start-ups to the largest employers will benefit from cost saving programs as well as the ability to purchase low-cost, state-generated renewable energy.

Read more about the entire Midwest’s clean energy jobs here.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Susan Munroe.

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Chambers for Innovation 12/21/20 Chambers for Innovation 12/21/20

Boulder Chamber Leads the Passage of Utility Partnership for Cleaner Energy, Hosts Briefing with Senatorial Staff

Utility Partnership: A Boulder Chamber Policy Priority

This past November, Boulder voters decided to move forward in partnership with Xcel Energy to meet critical carbon reduction and clean energy goals, investments in energy reliability and public safety via underground wiring and remove limits on rooftop solar.

Specifically, Ballot Issue 2C, a policy priority of the Boulder Chamber, passed and approved a franchise agreement between the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy to sell electricity within the city, pursue renewable energy projects, improve system reliability and modernization, advance new approaches to electrification of buildings and transportation, and increase access to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions.

The Boulder Chamber has encouraged the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy to pursue a collaborative approach to achieving their climate protection and clean energy goals. As an alternative, the City of Boulder had been evaluating the option of forming its own independent utility, an approach the Boulder Chamber believed could lead to high costs risks and service reliability challenges, among other concerns. Leading up to the 2020 election, the Boulder Chamber staff met with dozens of businesses and stakeholders to help articulate the benefits of a partnership approach that Ballot Issue 2C would facilitate.

“For good reason, our community has fought with near religious fervor for more than a decade over the best path toward achieving our climate protection and renewable energy goals. Record-breaking forest fires, spreading drought, and the other consequences of an overheated planet point to a crisis worthy of such a fight,” said John Tayer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boulder Chamber. “The new franchise agreement and settlement terms give us leverage to advance climate protection innovation that can revolutionize the energy future for Xcel’s 3.3 million customers across Colorado and its multi-state territory.”

Clean Energy Briefing with Senator Michael Bennet:

As part of the Boulder Chamber’s commitment to clean energy, chamber staff briefed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s team on the opportunities and challenges for their community. Senator Bennet, amongst other responsibilities, serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over clean energy tax incentives, and has been a strong proponent for clean energy and climate action for many years.

Lori Call, Boulder Chamber Senior Director of Policy Programs, updated the Senator’s team on Boulder’s recent passage of the Xcel franchise agreement and extension of the Utility Occupation Tax, which funds clean energy programs. She also joined Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver and business leaders from across the state to discuss clean energy solutions in Colorado and across the nation.

“It’s important for senate staff to have local Colorado success stories to help advance federal action on clean energy and climate,” Call stated. “We wanted to ensure that we shared our success story of the passage of Boulder’s electric franchise ballot initiative and our commitment to continue to tackle climate action at a local level.”

To learn more about clean energy opportunities in Colorado, contact Ryan Evans at revans@chambersforinnovation.com.

Photo above: John Tayer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce.

Chambers for Innovation 12/12/19 Chambers for Innovation 12/12/19

First-ever Cape Cod EV Car Show Draws Crowds, Spotlights Innovation

Massachusetts Chamber Leaders Showcase

Clean Transportation

MA EV Car Show 2019 Sept first photo.jpg

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce recently c-sponsored the first-ever electric vehicle (EV) car show on Cape Cod. It was part of a larger effort to educate business leaders and consumers on emerging clean transportation technologies and the opportunities that they provide to businesses, employees, and customers.

“The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the clean car show to help businesses better understand what the EV-driving community wants and needs," said Chris Adams, Chief of Staff at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. "We know that clean transportation is evolving rapidly and more businesses are investing in electric vehicles for the fuel cost savings, decreased maintenance needs, increased range of travel, talent recruitment, and environmental benefits, making this a great event to host for our region."

At the event, Cape Cod auto dealers showcased their electric and plug-in hybrid models and offered test drives of nine different EVs to the several hundred attendees. Private owners also brought an additional 22 EVs in 13 different makes and models.

The EV Car Show was hosted at the Hyannis Barnstable Municipal Airport and was organized as the premier regional event for National Drive Electric Week, an annual nationwide celebration highlighting availability of electric vehicles the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Learn more about the day by clicking here.

MA EV Car Show 2019 Sept second photo.jpg

Click on the image below to view a video of the day

Chambers for Innovation 11/13/19 Chambers for Innovation 11/13/19

Chattanooga area chamber “raises the bar” with business sustainability partnership

Chattanooga Area Chamber Partners with

Local Company to Deliver Sustainable Business Practices

Tennessee River running through Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce was pleased to join its member, EPB, recently to announce that it has become the first local company to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Gold level for an existing building. The company celebrated the announcement by hosting the EPB Green Business Expo to share expertise and resources with other local companies interested enhancing their sustainability and optimizing their operations.

Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce values the expertise that EPB brings to business sustainability. “The Chattanooga Chamber is proud to partner with EPB to engage local companies as we continue to raise the bar on our commitment to sustainability,” Gillenwater shared in a recent interview.

“It’s something more companies care about,” Gillenwater added. “And the Chattanooga business community has a long track record of working alongside community leaders and residents to help recover and preserve our community’s rich and beautiful natural environment.”

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s legislative priorities include supporting energy efficiency and conservation initiatives to help to preserve the community’s natural beauty while simultaneously avoiding a negative economic impact to the business community.

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA) shares the city's vision for sustainability

Read these articles for more about the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s business sustainability and clean energy leadership:

Taking a New Look at Sustainability in the South

Business Trend: Chattanooga goes solar

If you would like more information about the economic benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives, please contact susan@chambersforinnovation.com.

Chambers for Innovation 3/21/19 Chambers for Innovation 3/21/19

Paulding Chamber of Commerce Says It's Time For Ohio To Lead On Clean Energy

After Ohio's new governor proposed his first budget, a leading newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, evaluated it against economic and quality of life measures.

After Ohio's new governor proposed his first budget, a leading newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, evaluated it against economic and quality of life measures. But according to Mikayla Pieper, the head of the Paulding Local Chamber, "A key measure was missing, clean energy deployment." In a Letter to the Editor, she emphasized that "State policies on clean energy can attract business - or drive it away." She called on state leaders to improve the Buckeye State's economic performance with clean energy deployment.

Read the full text of the Paulding Chamber of Commerce's letter to the editor

Mikayla Pieper, Executive Director of the Paulding Chamber of Commerce

Chambers for Innovation 3/7/19 Chambers for Innovation 3/7/19

MA Chambers Get High-Powered Briefing from Energy Secretary Matt Beaton and State Senator Marc Pacheco

Lots of information was shared on the recent briefing call with MA policymakers, here's a re-cap:

A large group of Chamber Executives and member companies from across Massachusetts joined our recent briefing call co-hosted by the Greater Boston and Worcester Regional Chambers of Commerce. On the call, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environment Matt Beaton and State Senator Marc Pacheco talked with local chambers and member companies about the Commonwealth's priorities for economic development, clean energy, resilient communities, transportation infrastructure, and workforce readiness.

Sec. Matthew Beaton, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Secretary Beaton told local chambers about the Administration's participation in the 9-state regional Transportation and Climate Initiative. He emphasized that "the Commonwealth is proud to partner with Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to explore a program to protect the health of our residents and build a more resilient and sustainable transportation system for the next generation." To learn more please see Resilient Transportation System

Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton)

Senator Marc Pacheco unveiled his bi-partisan renewable energy bill An Act to Secure a Clean Energy Future (SD 757). This bi-partisan bill calls for expanding offshore wind; Increasing the growth of renewable energy to 3% per year which will put MA on track for 50% renewable energy by 2030; doubling the state's target for energy storage; more and better rebates for electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charges; and allowing homeowners that have installed solar panels to sell their excess electric power back to the grid (via credits on their bill) without penalty (this is referred to as net-metering). To learn more about SD 757 see Commonwealth Magazine and MA Bills

Resilient Communities - Supported by Governor, Legislators, and Local Chambers

We also learned that there is a lot of support for helping communities become more resilient as they experience more extreme weather events.

We heard about a new proposal by MA House Speaker Robert DeLeo called the GreenWorks Resilient Communities Investment Plan to fund community efforts to install solar grids, electric vehicle charging stations, resiliency infrastructure, and more.

Speaker DeLeo isn't alone in his quest to fund resiliency. Last month Governor Baker unveiled a proposal to raise money for resilient communities. See Gov Baker makes resilient communities a priority

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy will continue to update you on clean energy developments in the Bay State.

If you are interested in becoming more involved in any of the above discussions (offshore wind, EVs, resilient communities, the transportation initiative, storage, net metering, renewable energy, energy efficiency), please contact Diane Doucette at Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy or Tom Bullock. Jess Bergman will be out on maternity leave until July 2019.

Chambers for Innovation 1/16/19 Chambers for Innovation 1/16/19

Fayetteville Becomes Latest City to Commit to 100 Percent Clean Energy

“We know that many businesses—including our largest member, Walmart—want to fully power their operations with clean energy,” “said Steve Clark, President of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important that we support them in seizing the economic opportunities in the clean energy transition.”

As corporate demand grows for renewable energy, cities around the country are competing to attract the associated jobs, tax revenue, and additional investment.

Recently, Fayetteville, Arkansas, became the 54th American city—and the first in the state—to commit to 100 percent renewable energy: a move applauded by the local chamber of commerce.

Other cities that have made the commitment include Atlanta, GA; Columbia, SC; Downingtown, Phoenixville, and West Chester, PA; Georgetown, Texas; Hanover, New Hampshire; Hillsborough, NC; Orlando and Sarasota, FL; Salt Lake City, UT; and St. Louis, MO.

South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, announced their commitment in early 2017—a move that was also applauded by the local chamber.

"The Tahoe Chamber is committed to supporting policies and advocating for programs that promote economic, environmental and community sustainability,” Craig Schmidt, President of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, wrote in an op-ed in the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

CHAMBERS IN ACTION

Chambers, Businesses, and Utilities Meet to Discuss AZ’s Increasing Corporate Demand for Clean Energy

First-ever Cape Cod EV Car Show Draws Crowds, Spotlights Innovation

Massachusetts Chamber Leaders Showcase

Clean Transportation

Click on the image below to view a video of the day

Chattanooga area chamber “raises the bar” with business sustainability partnership

Chattanooga Area Chamber Partners with

Local Company to Deliver Sustainable Business Practices

Paulding Chamber of Commerce Says It's Time For Ohio To Lead On Clean Energy

MA Chambers Get High-Powered Briefing from Energy Secretary Matt Beaton and State Senator Marc Pacheco

Top 10 Featured Stories in 2018

Fayetteville Becomes Latest City to Commit to 100 Percent Clean Energy