Key Elements in the Rebuilding Efforts of Sanibel & Captiva and for Leading Florida Developers

One of the first things people saw when arriving on Sanibel Island was the Chamber of Commerce, whose building greeted visitors and locals on the main road for years.  Six months ago, Hurricane Ian brought ferocious winds and storm surge to Florida’s southwest coast and the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce’s building suffered significant damage, with flood waters overtaking the first floor. During a webinar hosted by Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy February 16, the chair of the chamber board, Calli Johnson, gave a short update on her family business, Bailey’s General Store, and on the chamber. “Our store had six to eight feet of storm surge, which pushed the hurricane-rated doors in and bent the block,” she says. “The interesting thing was, even though we had significant roof failure, the solar panels survived except for some damage from flying debris.” Like all of Sanibel and Captiva, Bailey’s General Store was already becoming energy independent and more resilient. About 20 percent of the building’s energy was from rooftop solar and solar shades in the parking lot.  “I want to do the right thing for my kids and their future,” Johnson says. “As we rebuild, we’re building only on the second story, adding new solar and solar shade structures to meet energy demands. We would like to get 100 percent of our needs met.” Before Ian, the chamber embraced clean energy, holding events on it, supporting the Renewable Energy Working Group, and showcasing how chambers can lead in embracing resilience, sustainability and clean energy.  Currently, the chamber is a central force in uniting the community and a leader on the community’s resilience committee, formed to rebuild to be even more resilient during storms. The webinar itself focused on two large community developers in Florida, Kitson Partners, which developed Babcock Ranch near Fort Myers, and Avalon Park Group, which owns communities in Orlando, Wesley Chapel and Tavares and is planning Avalon Park Daytona Beach. During the webinar, co-hosted by Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce and the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, key executives from Kitson and Avalon shared how they create more sustainable and resilient communities. Avalon Park reduces carbon emissions by creating walkable neighborhoods with everything from school to work located close to homes. Through a partnership with the utility, Babcock has 150MWs of solar capacity, generating more energy than consumed by the community. Hurricane Ian passed over Babcock Ranch as a category 4 storm. The community did not lose power. Back in Sanibel, the chamber stressed the island is open. Repairs to the chamber are nearly complete. Captiva didn’t experience as much storm surge, so many businesses are still open just as before the storm. Others throughout the islands are in temporary spaces or utilize second story spaces.  “We’re excited to have a place for businesses to just show up with what they need for the day,” Johnson says about the chamber offices. “I’m amazed at how much recovery has taken place. There are places to come for lunch and places to stay and I’d like to welcome anyone to come visit. She adds: “Come visit us – it’s the best way to help.” Watch the full webinar here.

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

Knox County Chamber event raises question: How might solar energy benefit Knox County?

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy partnered with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce as they hosted a lunch and learn on January 26 at The Gallagher Centre about the upcoming solar development in Knox County; including a panel of experienced leaders who shared the economic and community benefits of utility-scale solar, as well as the regulatory process for solar developments.This article was published by Knox Pages on January 27, 2023.

MOUNT VERNON — How could Knox County become energy independent? That was the topic of discussion at the Knox Chamber of Commerce Event Thursday afternoon at the Gallagher Centre. "As we talk about solar, it's really about energy independence, right?" Brian Dicken, with Toledo's Regional Chamber of Commerce, said. "And we certainly see gas prices fluctuate pretty wildly over the past couple of years. International issues come into play. "When you talk about wind, solar, certainly natural gas and oil are big in Ohio. It all fits within that energy portfolio."  Dicken's example for renewable energy was a 500-megawatt power plant that takes between 18 to 24 months to construct. Such a plant would bring in between 400 to 500 jobs, not all permanent. "But for that year and a half, you're gonna have those individuals working in your communities, come to your restaurants, getting their cars worked on," he said. "So there's certainly a local benefit to that."  The question remained: How do communities become interested and willing participants in solar energy?  "As we're trying to develop the industry, how do we get people interested and be prepared to maybe build that next solo project?" Dicken said. "Sometimes we hear about the infrastructure. Companies are required to restore roads and other infrastructure that may be disrupted during that. That's a requirement that they have to fulfill."  Some of the tax money that comes from renewable energy goes back to local schools, Dicken said. He also touched on the economic effect that the solar panel supply chain can bring, using the example of Perrysville-based company First Solar.  "They have more than 200 supply decks across the state," Dicken said. "You may know somebody who works as part of the solar supply chain. They may not be building the panel but certainly those component and services that come into it."  In return, it can make Ohio attractive for future sustainable energy businesses, Dicken said. Matt Butler, public information officer with Ohio Power Siting Board, spoke on how renewable energy projects are processed and approved by the state. "Our job is to review energy projects across the state before any developer can construct one of those facilities," Butler said. The board is comprised of some voting members, directors of state agencies from Ohio EPA, the department of agriculture, development, natural resources and health. A seventh board member is a public professional engineer appointed by the governor, Butler said. When renewable projects are involved, two additional votes come from the township affected and one from the county.  The board's process, consisting of an application, public hearings and approving or disapproving the project, generally takes about a year to complete for solar projects, Butler said.  Every project has to establish a "complaint resolution process," which is a way for community members to voice their concerns.  "If there's a land owner who has concerns that a field tile was broken on the of the property, and that is creating drainage issues on his neighboring property, that's going to be taken care of," Butler said. "In fact, we have a standard condition that requires them to repair at their expense. "You might wonder if a 25- to 30-year-end of life facility like this, what's going to happen (then)? Is this just gonna be left her in the ground for us to deal with as a community or as a landowner? And that's not the case." A decommissioning bond is required, that's put in place up front for the full replacement value of the facility with the bond adjusting every five years, Butler said. The bond would be used to take the facility up out of the ground and restore it to its preexisting use.

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

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

On February 21, the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce and Arizona Forward co-hosted a lively discussion on the growing demand for clean energy in Arizona, featuring representatives of the private sector and utilities.  Why did this topic generate much interest?  Organizations in Arizona are setting renewable energy and carbon reduction goals and developing strategies to reach them. This is financially-driven and emissions-driven and is attracting significant capital investment and job creation opportunities for the state. However, along with the economic benefits, the growth also poses supply chain and skill shortage challenges for Arizona.  Energy expert panelists included: Trevor Ledbetter, director, Office of Sustainability, University of Arizona Jonathan Simkins, vice president, Planning & Administration Global Real Estate & Workplace Experience, American Express Todd Brady, chief sustainability officer, Intel Corporation Todd Komaromy, director of resource planning, Arizona Public Service Grant Smedley, director of resource planning, Acquisition & Development, Salt River Project The panel was moderated by Ryan Evans, executive director at Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. What were the key outcomes from discussion? A range of stakeholders are pushing organizations to reduce emissions and embrace renewables - from customers to shareholders to employees to investors.   Clean energy includes varied technologies - solar is particularly advantageous in sunny Arizona, but increasingly wind and other clean energies are in the mix, especially a wide range of energy storage technologies. Clean energy technologies are also innovating at an exceptional pace. Clean energy is price competitive and cheaper than traditional fuels for new generation.  Clean energy presents an opportunity to lock in energy prices for corporations and individuals which can limit their exposure to the volatility of natural gas and other energy sources. The advancement of clean energy is global in scope and to be competitive internationally, US-based organizations must track, measure and report on their progress through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports.   Check out the full webinar.

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

Top 10 Chamber Stories of 2022

West Virginia can be the Country's Leading Energy Producer Again, with the Help of Clean Energy

Randy Crane, President of the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce in West Virginia, composed an Op-Ed to illustrate the clean energy industry's positive impact on West Virginia's economy, job growth, and economic development opportunities. Crane encourages both state senators and other lawmakers to support legislation to bolster "West Virginia’s job and energy portfolio by supporting clean energy investment provisions in upcoming legislation." Read the full CIA

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.  Read the full CIA

Working Toward Sunny Opportunities

Michelle Rotellini, president/CEO of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce in West Virginia, composed an Op-Ed to illustrate the impact solar energy development has on West Virginia's economy, job growth, and economic development opportunities. Rotellini understands the importance of diversifying energy supply, and the chamber supports an "all of the above" approach to energy generation in the Mountain State.  Read the full CIA

EV Industry in FL: The Electric Surge of EVs in the Sunshine State

One of the most high-profile aspects of clean energy is the growth of electric vehicles and in many cases, the membership of chambers of commerce are buying vehicles for their personal use, their fleets, and installing chargers at their business. In April, nearly 200 people joined the Seminole County Chamber for an in-depth look at the state of the EV industry in Florida, including hearing from a panel of people in the industry moderated by the chamber’s CEO, State Senator Jason Brodeur. Read the full CIA

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.  Read the full CIA

Winter Park Chamber Leads Community Sustainability with Innovative Prosperity Scorecard

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.” Read the full CIA

The Brooklyn Chamber Holds Energy Summit and Expo

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce in New York 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.  Read the full CIA

Logan County Chamber Ensures that Their Community is Well Informed on Solar

The Logan County Chamber of Commerce (OH) recently partnered with Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy to provide a Utility-Scale Solar Forum in conjunction with a regular meeting of the Logan County Community Improvement Corporation. This event was targeted at community leaders, in a grass tops strategy, to help ensure that the information presented would flow to the local population from trusted sources.  Read the full CIA

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

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.” Read the full CIA

Florida Clean Energy - Powering Workforce Development

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). Read the full CIA

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

2022 North Carolina Clean Energy Champions Announced Amidst Impressive Year for Clean Energy Development in NC

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, alongside co-host Conservatives for Clean Energy hosted the 8th annual North Carolina Clean Energy Champions event in Greensboro, North Carolina; a hub for recent clean energy investments and developments. The event is a time where chamber and economic development leaders, as well as legislators and businesses are awarded for their leadership in advancing the clean energy economy in NC.  “Their advocacy, investments, and policy development have turned North Carolina into a clean energy economic powerhouse and a national hub for clean energy innovation and manufacturing,” Ryan Evans, executive director, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. North Carolina has been no stranger to the economic impacts clean energy can have on communities across the state. Whether it be offshore wind, solar, or electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. The state continues to benefit from the growing industry and can continue to forge a path for a clean energy future.  2022 Clean Energy Champion award winners: U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-7th District) For working consistently in a bipartisan way with Republican and Democratic colleagues in Congress to repeal a 10-year moratorium on offshore wind projects and to promote other clean energy initiatives. State Rep. Ed Goodwin (R-Chowan) For sponsoring legislation that would direct the N.C. Utilities Commission to study reforms to deliver far greater market competition, customer choice, and ratepayer savings to North Carolinians than the current monopoly-controlled structure allows. Goodwin also has supported solar projects and a wind farm in his district, where they produce much-needed property tax revenue. State Rep. Harry Warren (R-Rowan) For sponsoring important legislation expanding solar panel freedom in homeowner association neighborhoods and promoting electric vehicles. State Sen. Michael Lazzara (R-Onslow) For sponsoring legislation to allow commercial property-assessed clean energy, a financing method that allows borrowed capital to pay the upfront costs associated with energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements, repaid over time via a voluntary tax assessment. Greensboro Chamber of Commerce For playing a central role while working with the Governor’s Office, state lawmakers, local government, utilities, colleges, and many other partners to create an extensive siting and incentive package development that attracted Toyota Motor Corp. of America to the Greensboro-Randolph megasite, Toyota plans to invest more than $3.8 billion to build its first electric vehicle and hybrid battery facility, creating up to 2,100 jobs. Carteret County Economic Development Department For demonstrating dynamic leadership in one of the most exciting clean energy opportunities for the state: offshore wind. Carteret County and North Carolina are well-positioned to welcome billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs in the offshore wind industry. New Belgium Brewing For generating solar power at its Asheville brewery, for committing to carbon-neutrality by 2030, and for supporting robust state clean energy policies, including more electric vehicles and charging stations. Siemens For promoting clean energy policies, for its strong clean energy goals, and for employing thousands of North Carolinians in technology jobs. Clean Energy Rising Star award winner: Rep. Matthew Winslow (R-Wake) Rep. Winslow, a homebuilder and former economic developer who was just elected to a second term in the N.C. House, for creating resilient neighborhoods that feature a micro-grid and homes that are pre-wired for rooftop solar panels and electric vehicle charging in their garages. Lifetime Achievement award winner: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R) For his almost three decades of public service in Congress, including his having played a vital role in developing last year’s Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, a much-needed, bipartisan federal law. “I hope our award winners’ success stories will inspire all of you,” Fleming, the CEO of Conservatives for Clean Energy, said in concluding the event. “Who knows –you might be one of our 2023 Clean Energy Champions!”

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

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.

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.

Logan County Chamber Ensures that their Community is Well Informed on Solar

Utility-scale solar developments have been on the rise in Ohio over the last two years and with those developments comes great economic benefits for the communities where they are located. Recognizing that there are many potential upsides to solar developments but also recognizing that residents and community leaders have questions about the technology, regulations, community impacts, and economic development opportunities, chambers of commerce are increasingly looking to provide legitimate, third-party expert validated information.   The Logan County Chamber of Commerce (OH) recently partnered with Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy to provide a Utility-Scale Solar Forum in conjunction with a regular meeting of the Logan County Community Improvement Corporation. This event was targeted at community leaders, in a grass tops strategy, to help ensure that the information presented would flow to the local population from trusted sources.  Presentations included: The Economic Power of Solar- Brian Dicken (IOM); Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Ohio Power Siting Board Permitting Process and Criteria- Matt Butler; Public Information Officer, Ohio Power Siting Board. PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) Orientation and SB 52 Regulations for Solar- Dylan Borchers; Energy, Environment & Utilities Attorney, Bricker & Eckler Attorneys at Law. Power of the PILOT and Community Impacts of Renewable Energy- Jeff Snyder; Superintendent, Lincolnview Local Schools (Van Wert County) A Farmer and Landowner’s Perspective- Mike Pullins, Farm owner (Champaign County) The Logan County Chamber of Commerce provided a great example of engaging grass tops leaders in a discussion on an important and significant matter for their community. Whether or not a chamber takes a position on public policy matters, local infrastructure projects, or utility-scale solar developments, as the voice of business, each chamber can follow the lead of the Logan County Chamber and at least look to ensure that the community is well informed.

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

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.

Convening Clean Energy Conversations at the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

Buckeye, Arizona is distinct in many ways - It is the largest city in AZ by land mass and 7th fastest growing city in the US. Located 35 miles west of Phoenix with a population of 111K, it is in the middle of what some have nicknamed the ‘Electric Valley’ and others the ‘Sustainable Valley’.   The Buckeye Valley Chamber, led by CEO Deanna Kupcik, is keenly aware of the jobs and economic opportunity in the clean energy economy. With Mesquite Solar on its board and Mesquite’s 400MW solar facility nearby, and members APS and SRP having set ambitious goals to transition to renewable energy, the Chamber actively supports member companies working in clean energy. A recent addition to the solar landscape is NextEra’s 260 MW Sonoran Solar project. According to Buckeye Mayor, Eric Orsborn “The Sonoran Solar project is more than solar panels and batteries - it represents another significant capital investment in the City of Buckeye, the West Valley and the state of Arizona. It’s another example of Buckeye’s commitment to sustainable and renewable energy production.”  Kore Power, a large and growing clean energy company, recently selected Buckeye for its manufacturing site (KorePlex). The company purchased 214 acres in Buckeye for its two million square foot facility - where it will help build a reliable battery supply critical to the future of electric vehicles, solar, and power grids. The facility will be powered by on-site solar and storage.  With such a large facility coming to Buckeye, it was no surprise to the Chamber that local businesses and residents had much interest and many questions. The Chamber used its Quarterly Breakfast event to host Kore for a discussion and had record turnout of almost 100 attendees. Kupcik, said the meetings offered an opportunity for the community to get answers to questions about the project. “There is a lot of buzz about the KOREPlex, and having the opportunity to get the latest news, to learn about KORE Power and get questions answered really opens up opportunities to turn that buzz into partnerships.” And business partnerships are what Chambers are all about.

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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EV Industry in FL: The Electric Surge of EVs in the Sunshine State

One of the most high-profile aspects of clean energy is the growth of electric vehicles and in many cases, the membership of chambers of commerce are buying vehicles for their personal use, their fleets, and installing chargers at their business. In April, nearly 200 people joined the Seminole County Chamber for an in-depth look at the state of the EV industry in Florida, including hearing from a panel of people in the industry moderated by the chamber’s CEO, State Senator Jason Brodeur. Included on the panel were: Brad Thoburn, Assistant Secretary of Strategic Development, Florida Department of Transportation Shane Lillibridge, Customer Relations Manager, Headquarter Hyundai Murat Babur, Global Director of Battery Management Systems, Microvast Brodeur began the meeting by talking about the growth of the EV market in the United States, sharing that in 2011, there were 16,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. and, as of last year, there were more than two million. By 2030, it is expected that 50% of new cars sold in the US will be electric. All of the panelists agreed the EV market will continue to surge, with Thoburn saying the state is looking at a 35% growth rate by the year 2030 being spurred, primarily by the technology within the vehicles. To prepare, the state is focused on deploying the infrastructure needed for the electric market, by developing an EV master plan for the state. Florida must also submit its plan to the Federal government for the use of nearly $200 million in EV charging infrastructure by August 1. “It’s changing our world, which is exciting, but it means we have to think differently and be more agile,” Thoburn said. “Our 20-year vision has to be very flexible and change on a dime.”

Deploying EV chargers and infrastructure is not only important to the state, residents, and Florida businesses but to manufactures, specifically, as well.  Lillibridge shared that Hyundai was reluctant to send its Ioniq 5 to Florida because of the lack of infrastructure, both public and private. “In other states, California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, you have to travel five to 10 miles to reach a high-speed charging station. In Florida, it’s over 70 miles,” he said. “We have to bring that number down.” Lillibridge now gets about four cars to sell per month. “Honestly, when you drive a vehicle, you don’t know what color it is, so I can get you a vehicle, just don’t worry about what the color is,” he added. Babur added the perception of people towards safety and technology is still not matching with the actual safety and technology level of the vehicles. “Right now, we are really reaching great breakthroughs with the technology that is really bringing the cost down,” Babur says. “From the safety standpoint, there’s no carbon emissions and you don’t need to go to mechanic for regular maintenance.” The one thing each panelist wanted the attendees to leave with: Thoburn: “We need to continue to educate people on where this technology is headed,” Babur: “Trust in the evolution of the battery technology, it’s safety and it’s range” Lillibriget: “Let your anxiety go away, you’re not going to get stuck on the side of the road unless you are a bad driver.”

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

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Op-ed: This is What the Green Economy of Today Looks Like: Family-Sustaining, Inclusive and Accessible

This opinion piece was written by Lisa Sorin, president of the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce. This article was published by Crain's New York Business on April 8, 2022.

The green economy is the economy of the future: Transitioning to a greener economy is projected to create 24 million jobs globally by 2030, the International Labour Organization says. As New York works to recover from Covid-19's economic devastation, however, we need to start thinking about the green economy of today—with massive potential to create stable, good-paying jobs right now in communities such as the Bronx and others that were hit hardest by unemployment. In fact, jobs in renewable energy increased in 2020—even amid the pandemic's economic disruption. All the data points to the need to urgently invest in clean energy solutions now—not only as a climate strategy but an economic one. New York is leading the way on both fronts. In 2019 the state enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and set a goal for a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and economywide carbon neutrality. Achievable goal Clean Path New York is how we make that goal a reality—an $11 billion, all-New York investment to build new, state-of-the-art wind and solar infrastructure upstate and a 175-mile transmission line to bring reliable, clean power downstate where it's needed most. Crucially, the project will create 8,300 jobs in engineering, construction, operations, maintenance and elsewhere—all paying well, all for New York and all in a sector that is poised for dynamic growth. Clean Path New York has committed to working with skilled union labor and pursuing local hiring to ensure that working New Yorkers have meaningful opportunities to bring this first-in-the-nation project to life in our state. When it is completed, Clean Path New York will enable the delivery of more than 7.5 million megawatt-hours of emissions-free clean energy into New York every year and reduce fossil fuel emissions from the electric sector by 22% on average per year—that's 49 million tons of avoided CO2. With Clean Path New York, we'll be well on our way toward New York's goal of 70% renewable energy generation by 2030. The Clean Path New York project recognizes that the transition to a green economy must be just and swift. For too long, communities on the front lines of climate change, especially neighborhoods in the Bronx, have borne the public health burdens of living near and working in New York's fossil fuel infrastructure—paying the price in higher risks of illness with little economic gain. Investing in green We must ensure that these New Yorkers are not only part of the new green economy, but the drivers of it. That means investing in green job training, union apprenticeships, workforce development and education to create real, long-term career pathways to the renewable energy sector. Clean Path New York has committed $270 million to this effort, to be steered by New Yorkers, including those in affected communities. This investment will help expand New York's green economy to be more representative of the full breadth of New York's diverse and skilled workforce. This is what the green economy of today looks like—family-sustaining, inclusive, and accessible to anyone who wants to be part of New York's recovery and our state's transition to a sustainable, renewable energy future. Clean Path New York meets the moment head on—a win for the Bronx, a win for our economy, a win for our climate and a win for our future. Lisa Sorin is president of the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

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

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Arizona: Home to the New Electric Valley, Attracting New Jobs and Investments

While other states in the U.S. may produce more vehicles in total, Arizona is attracting the startup electric vehicle (EV) sector, bringing thousands of additional jobs and billions of capital investment to the state, having some nickname the area the “Electric Valley”. Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) and Arizona Forward co-hosted a discussion on February 1, on Arizona’s “Electric Valley”, with engaging speakers, including: experts from local chambers and economic development organizations. It also included the executives from three top EV companies - Lucid, Nikola, and Electra Meccanica.  Britta Gross, Managing Director, Carbon Free Mobility, Rocky Mountain Institute & Orlando Public Utility Commissioner Marisa Walker, Sr. V.P., Arizona Commerce Authority & Executive Director, Institute of Automated Mobility Renee Louzon-Benn, Executive Director, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce James Smith, Economic and Workforce Development Director, Pinal County Mike Boike, Senior Director of Manufacturing, Lucid Motors Elizabeth Fretheim, Global Head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Nikola Julie Ibara, Plant Manager, Electra Meccanica Jon Ford, Moderator, Community Development Regional Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco The panelists exemplified the Arizona teamwork and coordinated approach that has put the state in a leading position to attract more advanced manufacturing and skilled jobs. With fierce competition from other regions in the U.S., the goal was to address the questions: how does Arizona maintain and grow its attractiveness to EV manufacturers, and what does being a leader in the EV (and associated supply chain) manufacturing mean for Arizona in terms of tax revenue, investment, clean jobs, and clean air? Renee Louzon-Benn, executive director of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the great relationship between Lucid’s expanding manufacturing site, the city, and county. She spoke of the success of Casa Grande and the county in developing the needed skills and workforce. “I think what was really key is knowing that Lucid was going to need a skilled workforce. The state of Arizona, Pinal County, the City of Casa Grande and Central Arizona College partnered to develop Drive 48, a state of the art advanced manufacturing training center.” She went on to add “Lucid is attracting 20 somethings to live and work in Casa Grande.” James Smith, economic development and workforce director for Pinal County, punctuated many of Renee’s points. “Silicon Valley likes Arizona because it's so close. The technology can be developed in Silicon Valley and manufactured and implemented here in Arizona. We would never be able to manufacture the internal combustion engine, because so many of those suppliers are in the upper midwest, but when you remove some of those pieces and parts and it’s much more about technology it really lends itself to Arizona having that supply chain here and being able to manufacture here.” “Not only do we have that positive business environment, but I also think we are training a whole generation of workers for this industry going forward. The underlying factors for success are off the charts,” said Smith.  Following the webinar, the Federal Department of Transportation announced funding for EV charging in Arizona; dollars allocated to the state as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. “Arizona stands to get up to $76.5 million over the next five years to develop electric vehicle charging stations along interstate corridors, in hopes of increasing EV ownership by reducing range anxiety for drivers”, according to AZ Cronkite News.   Watch the full recorded session here  Check out our Arizona Clean Energy Jobs and Economic Impact Report

If your chamber would like to learn more about navigating clean energy opportunities in your community, contact Anne Feldhusen for more information.

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Working Toward Sunny Opportunities

Michelle Rotellini, president/CEO of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce in West Virginia, composed an Op-Ed to illustrate the impact solar energy development has on West Virginia's economy, job growth, and economic development opportunities. Rotellini understands the importance of diversifying energy supply, and the chamber supports an "all of the above" approach to energy generation in the Mountain State. This editorial was published by the Register-Herald on March 11, 2022. 

Solar power development in our region may seem to be an unlikely path for economic growth, but it’s well on its way to creating a stronger and more sustainable economy in Raleigh County. As our state and federal leaders work toward building a stronger West Virginia economy, the Beckley-Raleigh Chamber of Commerce understands firsthand the importance of diversifying our energy supply. Raleigh County is proud to be home to the first large solar farm in the state. The project, Raleigh Solar, is expected to bring in a $40 million economic investment to the county, $55.1 million to the state and the creation of 400 jobs during construction. This endeavor is not only good for our local economy but also workforce development. As business leaders, we recognize that it’s not an either-or situation. The future economic growth in this area could benefit from the diversification of energy sources, including renewable energy options such as solar. The chamber supports an “all of the above” approach to energy options to ensure the future economic growth of the Beckley-Raleigh County area and all of southern West Virginia. We stand with energy providers as they continue to diversify and are excited to partner with them as they expand into new forms of energy. We believe that this opportunity is a positive step in attracting new businesses and commerce. As Sen. Joe Manchin pointed out on a West Virginia energy and economic development panel, clean energy is an integral part of West Virginia’s future growth and key to an all-in energy plan.  In this time of economic uncertainty and instability, one thing we should all be behind is the importance of diversifying our energy sources and the role renewable energy plays in local economic growth. We see a bright future for all West Virginians and we encourage our state and federal lawmakers to support opportunities to diversify our state’s energy portfolio to grow a stronger, cleaner economy. Michelle Rotellini, president/CEO of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce.

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

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