Top Ten Stories of 2019
Ohio Chambers Look to Electric & Smart Vehicles for Growth
Chambers across Ohio are pursuing economic opportunities in producing or becoming early adopters of EVs, as well as exploring the roles that EVs are expected to play in autonomous and connected transportation.
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North East Chambers Show Strong Support for Offshore Wind
MA Chambers Urge Federal Action
Sixteen chamber CEOs and executive directors in Massachusetts recently sent a letter to Secretary Bernhardt at the U.S. Department of the Interior in support for Vineyard Wind, a development set to be America’s first major offshore wind project. The chambers acted after an unexpected, last minute delay threatened the certainty of this development being built.
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CT Legislator Makes Major Offshore Wind Announcement at Chamber Meeting
More than 130 joined the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut for a bi-partisan panel on the economic opportunities of offshore wind. Business, industry, political and environmental leaders heard from a high-powered panel of experts.
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Reno + Sparks Chamber Goes All-in on Positive Clean Energy
In 2019, the Reno + Sparks Chamber, showed exemplary clean energy and climate action leadership. Two of their efforts rise to the top for recognition.
First, the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce was a key supporter of SB 358 which doubled the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 50% by 2030 and requires 100% carbon-free emissions by 2050.
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Second, as a member of the City of Reno's Climate and Sustainability Committee, the Reno + Sparks Chamber worked with other committee members for more than a year to produce a 52 page Climate Action Plan.
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Two NC Chambers Honored as Clean Energy Champions
Having designated clean energy as a top priority goal and clearly valuing the economic development opportunities clean energy brings to eastern North Carolina, the Outer Banks and Edenton-Chowan Chambers of Commerce were honored for their active support of clean energy in the communities they serve and at the North Carolina General Assembly this session.
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New Mexico Becomes the Third State to Require 100% Renewable Sourced Electricity
"The business community worked closely on the bill with legislators, utilities, labor, and local communities to balance the challenges and opportunities for our energy producing state to catalyze economic growth so that New Mexico leads the country in the 21st Century,” said Rob Black, President and CEO of the New Mexico State Association of Commerce and Industry. “It is a strategic balancing act for our state and we are heading in the right direction.”
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Chattanooga Area Chamber "raises the bar" with Business Sustainability Partnership
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce was pleased to join its member, EPB, 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.
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Greater KC Metro Chamber Partners with Local Officials to Form Metro KC Climate Action Coalition
The Metro KC Climate Action Coalition, formed in January, 2019, is a broad stakeholder coalition of elected officials, the Greater Kansas City Metro Chamber, and other local partners that came together to begin working on a comprehensive, local effort to address climate change in the surrounding Kansas City area. In December of 2019, the coalition released a Climate Action KC Playbook. This detailed policy and best practices manual highlights a broad scope of solutions for municipal governments to reduce greenhouse gasses.
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Fayetteville, AR Praised for Leadership in Sustainability
“The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce congratulates the City of Fayetteville for being recognized by the US Conference of Mayors for its sustainability efforts," said Steve Clark, President and CEO of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. “More importantly, the business community thanks the city for its strong economic and sustainability leadership.”
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Traverse City Area Chamber Issues Statement on Climate Change Policy
In a detailed public statement, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce demonstrated strong leadership for regional climate policy in Michigan. "We call on policymakers to seize on an approach that rises to the challenge of climate change, leveraging business leadership and expertise, America’s energy edge, and our ability to innovate.”
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Massachusetts Chambers Driving Clean Transportation Efforts
Local chambers of commerce in Massachusetts were very engaged in clean transportation efforts this year. There were too many important efforts and events to choose just one.
First-Ever Cape Cod EV Car Show Draws Crowds, Spotlights Innovation
Local Chambers join The Massachusetts Business Coalition on Transportation
Metro South Chamber Was An Early Leader In The Electric Vehicle Revolution