Fayetteville Becomes Latest City to Commit to 100 Percent Clean Energy

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.

“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.”

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.

Top 10 Featured Chamber Stories in 2017

Congratulations to the chambers featured in the Top 10 stories highlighting leadership on innovation and economic development.

PA Local Chambers Co-host Geisinger Tour with Legislators

"Efficiency lowers overhead, cleans our land, water and air and even saves lives. It's simply the right thing to do," said Bob Garrett, President and CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, one of three chambers that hosted a tour of the Geisinger Advanced Energy Plant. Using state incentives, Geisinger purchased energy-saving technologies saves them $15 million a year. More.

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In NC, Local Chambers Call on General Assembly to Support "Some of the Best Economic News" to Reach Their Region

Four rural local chambers called on North Carolina's General Assembly leadership to support wind and solar energy-- calling clean energy some of the best economic news to reach the Northeastern part of the state in a long time. More.

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Local Chambers Host Largest Clean Energy Convening At MA Statehouse

More than three-dozen local chambers of commerce and member businesses met with legislators for the largest convening of local chambers at the Massachusetts Statehouse to discuss clean energy. More.

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CEO of Local MI Chamber Co-hosts National Conversation About Clean Energy

"Local leadership and best practices [in clean energy] are being set by communities," said Doug Luciani, CEO of TraverseConnect in Michigan, which cohosted a nationwide conversation about clean energy for local chambers. "Regions that are going to succeed in attracting the brightest and best are going to be regions that fully embrace these new technologies, doing the right thing for the right reasons." More. 

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In NV, Local Chamber CEO Serves on Governor's Energy Choice Committee

"From the standpoint of the chamber, my job is to translate what we're learning about energy choice to the positive impact it is expected to have on consumers and local businesses-- on the people who live here," said Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno and Sparks Chamber of Commerce. "I have no doubt: if it's good for people, it's good for business." More.

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Ohio Heartland Chambers Visit State Capitol to Set the Record Straight on Wind Energy

More than a dozen local chamber, economic development leaders, and community officials shared their front-line stories about the benefits of wind with state government leaders in 2017. They discussed the value that tax base increases, property owner payments, and increased economic activity deliver to their economies when utility scale wind farms are constructed. More.

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In VA, Local Chamber Supports Onshore $20 Million Plus Wind Farm

"Focusing on the energy of the future is just one way to support the business of the future," said former Botetourt County Chamber Executive Director Doloris Vest. The Rocky Forge Wind Farm is expected to generate $20 to $25 million in tax revenue and drive decades of increased local purchasing, employment, and investment. More.

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World Gathering of Chambers Learn that, in the US, Local Chambers are Increasingly Supporting Clean Energy

"More and more, local chambers are at the table on important clean energy discussions all over the country," Wendy Northcross, President and CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber, told more than 1,000 CEOs and chamber leaders from more than 100 countries at the annual gathering of the World Chambers Congress in Sydney, Australia. More.

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CT Chamber Out Front Again on Clean Energy

"The Bridgeport Regional Business Council recognizes the importance clean energy has on local economic development and job creation," said Jeff Bishop, Executive Director of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce, an Affiliate Chamber of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and Business Growth and Retention Director at the BRBC. "We will continue to support the City in their quest to revitalize our business community." More.

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In TN, Greater Memphis Chamber Seizes "Clean" as Opportunity for Business Growth Opportunity

"At the Greater Memphis Chamber, we have a commitment to economic growth for all," said Phil Trenary, President and CEO. "And we recognize that the growing opportunities in clean energy are an important part of that mix for our members." More. 

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Ann Silver, on the Governor’s Energy Choice Committee, Focuses on the Role of Clean Energy, Other Issues Important to Millennials

Ann Silver, Reno and Sparks Chamber of Commerce

When Ann Silver took over the Reno and Sparks Chamber of Commerce a year ago, she quickly identified a challenge that many local chamber leaders face: She calls it the “cannibalizing of the chamber brand.”

There was a rise in new professional groups that presented competition for members, and, in her view, a need to take a fresh look at the question: What value proposition does a local chamber of commerce offer its members?

With a diverse and accomplished professional background—as General Manager of Radio City Music Hall, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada, and a lawyer—Silver does not shy away from being bold.

And she soon decided on a few things: With Reno having attracted the electric vehicle giant Tesla, the data storage company Switch, and an Amazon fulfillment center, the chamber had to pay more attention to the diversity of its members and issues that matter to millennials.

“The younger generation is very cause-oriented vs. product-oriented,” says Silver. “We have to wrap our arms around that as a chamber.”

She asked: “What is the one thing that we can do that no one else is doing?” The answer that emerged: Keep members informed about every side of an issue. “We need to get back to a nonpartisan, middle-of-the ground, educational approach.”

The Importance of Clean Energy

Among the issues Silver thinks the chamber needs to focus on is clean energy, which, as several reports have shown, is very important to the millennial generation.

In 2016, Nevada voters were presented with a ballot question in which they were asked if they wanted to change the state constitution to allow for greater choice in where they buy their energy. Seventy percent of voters said yes.

Silver now sits on Governor Brian Sandoval’s Energy Choice Committee, which is charged with tackling next steps in providing residents with more clean energy choices.

“From the standpoint of the chamber, my job is to translate what we’re learning about energy choice to the positive impact it is expected to have on consumers and local businesses—on the people who live here,” said Silver. “I have no doubt: If it’s good for people, it’s good for business.”