Wilmington Chamber honors Cape Fear Solar Systems with top pick at Coastal Entrepreneur Awards

The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards run by the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an opportunity for area chambers of commerce to recognize their top businesses and organizations within the community. Announced in the Wilmington Business Journal, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce awarded Cape Fear Solar Systems with their Entrepreneur of the Year Award.   “We presented the award to Cape Fear Solar to recognize their entrepreneurial spirit and fantastic growth in recent years. We were thrilled to participate in their groundbreaking for a new headquarters building and look forward to helping them continue to grow,” says Natalie Haskins English, president and CEO of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

Cape Fear Solar Systems is gearing up to celebrate its 14th anniversary and in the process of constructing a new headquarters in North Carolina. Cape Fear Solar, no stranger to community engagement installed the solar system at Wilmington’s Mad Mole Brewing, recipient of the 2019 North Carolina Clean Energy Champion Award, an award given by Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and the North Carolina Conservatives for Clean Energy. "Every challenge thrown our way gives us an opportunity to adapt and become better. More importantly, a better opportunity to serve our community and deliver energy independence. We are simply honored, and I am proud of everyone at Cape Fear Solar Systems for their hard work and dedication to being the kind of solar company our customers can depend upon," says Robert Parker, senior project manager and commercial project developer for Cape Fear Solar Systems. You can see Cape Fear Solar Systems' full press release here.

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

‌

Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce Receives NC Clean Energy Champion Award

The Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce received statewide recognition for their outstanding leadership in advancing clean energy opportunities in North Carolina at the 6th annual “North Carolina Clean Energy Champion” awards event. The December 1 event was co-hosted by Conservatives for Clean Energy-NC (CCE) and Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy (CICE) and streamed online to over 200 participants. (Click here to view a recording of the event.)

CICE’s Director of Economic Development, Susan Munroe, touted the Ahoskie Chamber’s leadership in its support of solar energy development and upcoming manufacturing supply chain opportunities associated with offshore wind energy projects, which could be constructed 20+ miles off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. “I applaud the Ahoskie Chamber’s leadership efforts in advancing the investments and economic benefits that renewable energy projects are delivering across Hertford County and northeastern North Carolina, especially during these uncertain times,” said Munroe. “Their message is clear: They support, and want more clean energy investment in their community because it directly benefits their local economy and citizens.” 

Amy Braswell, executive director of the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce accepted the award sharing, "Hertford County is a mix of industries and agriculture and we are now adding renewable energy to our portfolio. We see the opportunity and we are absolutely certain that renewables will play a role in our future economic development planning.”

Event participants also heard from top political consultants, Paul Shumaker and Dee Stewart, founders of Strategic Partners Solutions, who discussed the 2020 elections and recent energy polling of NC voters, as well as a special clean energy video from US Senator Thom Tillis.  In addition to the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce, the following also received awards: Mother Earth Brewing, Novo Nordisk, Live Oak Bank, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway received NC Clean Energy Champion Awards. Receiving Clean Energy Champion legislative awards were NC Representative John Torbett (R-Gaston,) NC Senator Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell & Yadkin), and NC Representative Bobby Hanig (R-Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico).

‌