Greenwood Chamber’s Clean Energy Growth Creates Jobs for Local Workers

When a major employer closes, the impact on a community can be significant. In Greenwood, South Carolina, the arrival of a growing clean energy manufacturer helped provide new opportunities for local workers facing an uncertain future

Just as ES Foundry, a manufacturer supplying the utility-scale solar industry, ramped up operations in Greenwood, another local manufacturer announced its closure, putting hundreds of employees out of work.

The timing created an opportunity to connect experienced manufacturing workers with new jobs. The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce joined other community and workforce development partners in supporting efforts to help displaced employees find new roles. Partners held multiple job fairs at the closing facility, bringing together ES Foundry, Piedmont Technical College, other hiring companies, and additional workforce resources.

“We’re excited about the investment and jobs ES Foundry is bringing to Greenwood,” said Trentsie Williams, president and CEO of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. “By manufacturing American-made solar components right here in our community, ES Foundry is creating opportunities for local workers while strengthening our nation’s domestic energy supply chain. It’s exciting to know that what’s being made in Greenwood will have an impact far beyond our community.”

ES Foundry hired many of the displaced workers, helping retain experienced manufacturing talent in the Greenwood area. Williams estimates the company now employs 400 to 500 people and is preparing for another expansion that will create more jobs.

For Greenwood, ES Foundry's growth demonstrates how clean energy manufacturing supports local economies, creates jobs, and strengthens American manufacturing. It also emphasizes the value of partnerships among businesses, chambers, and workforce development partners in connecting local talent with new opportunities.

Solar Investment Brings Economic Impact to Rural Georgia

For Jeffrey Fowler, president and CEO of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, utility-scale solar development is about generating energy,  new investment, and economic activity for his rural Georgia community.

Silicon Ranch is developing a 107-megawatt solar project south of Norwood that Fowler said represents approximately $142 million in capital investment, 400 construction jobs, and an estimated $11 million in new tax revenue during its first phase. The project is expected to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 13,000 homes.

But Fowler said the economic impact also shows up in everyday spending.

Construction workers coming into the area purchase meals, fuel, and other goods and services from local businesses. Due to the community’s limited lodging, workers stay in surrounding counties, spreading the project's economic impact across the region.

“We see a huge influx of sales tax revenue on the county side,” Fowler said. “They can tell when they’re here and when they’re not. It’s very easy to see.”

The chamber also plays an important role in helping the community understand the project. Silicon Ranch joined the Chamber early, provided maps and informational materials, and presented directly to the chamber board.

“People trust us,” Fowler said. “When we can give them that information easily, it removes some of the superstition of, ‘What is this?’”

For Fowler, projects like this offer rural communities another way to grow their tax base, support regional businesses, and attract new investment—all while providing residents with trusted information about what that development means for the community.

Bastrop Regional Chamber Connects Businesses with New Economic Opportunities

How does a rural small town double its taxable value in less than a decade? Location, land availability, affordability, and access to major transportation hubs help. So do leaders like Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Becki Womble, who understand their community’s assets and approach economic development as a team sport. 

For Womble, energy investment is a clear example of that teamwork paying off. “Waterloo Solar created 300 construction jobs in the Bastrop area and is expected to deliver $2 million in annual economic benefits for decades. RWE Clean Energy is a great partner, and this project shows how communities across Texas share in the state’s energy growth,” she said.

Womble’s advice: Don't wait for clean energy projects or other investments to arrive before engaging the local government. She recommends connecting developers with regional business leaders, vendors, and workforce partners so they become part of the community. 

Companies recognize that Bastrop focuses on the future. The presence of SpaceX/Starlink, The Boring Company, which designs and builds underground tunnel systems, and Tesla’s nearby Gigafactory put this region on the map for advanced technology and manufacturing.

“Success also breeds success. Once innovative companies see other innovative companies choosing your region, it creates credibility,” said Womble. 

Learn more about how the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce connects businesses with clean energy investments and other economic opportunities to prepare the community for growth.

Beep-Freebee Merger Fuels Florida's Economy

Clean Transportation Innovators Expand Through Chamber Involvement

Two leaders in autonomous and electric public transportation, Orlando-based Beep and Miami-based Freebee, merged in September, creating a national powerhouse in the industry.

The merger shows how investments in clean, innovative technologies can expand Florida’s economy and how chambers of commerce help them grow. After all, the combined company will operate in more than 60 communities, serve more than two million riders each year, and employ nearly 1,000 people. Its headquarters will be Lake Nona, a major innovation hub east of Orlando.

“The Beep and Freebee merger is a great example of the kind of growth we want to see coming out of the Lake Nona ecosystem,” said Ashley Loute, executive director of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Beep has built and tested innovative mobility solutions here in Lake Nona, and today that work is scaling into a company serving communities across the country.”

Shortly before announcing the merger, Beep closed another investment round, bringing total capital raised to about $130 million.

Loute added that when companies headquartered in Lake Nona attract investment, create jobs and expand their reach, it strengthens the community’s reputation as a place where innovation becomes a real-world impact.

Both companies are leading a shift in how local governments can reduce the use of diesel buses and other gas-fueled systems. 

Freebee shows another side of that transition by putting electric vehicles into public transportation systems people use every day. Beep demonstrates how communities use autonomous transportation to connect their population and commercial centers.

Together, the companies can now combine electric microtransit with autonomous technology at a much larger scale. With diesel costs skyrocketing, this is even more important today.

Since their inception, Beep and Freebee both have made local chambers part of their growth. Beep is a Business Builder member of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber, where co-founder Mark Reid serves on the board. It’s also a bronze member of the JAX Chamber in Jacksonville, another market where the company deploys its technology.

Freebee is a Trustee of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In Miami Beach, Gus Doyle, Freebee’s business development executive, serves on the chamber’s board. In Seminole County, where Freebee operates the new all-electric SCOUT public transportation system, the company sponsors the Seminole County Chamber’s monthly Good Morning Seminole breakfast.

Clean energy and transportation companies have a lot to gain by joining their local chamber. Membership connects companies deploying new technologies with the businesses, local governments and community leaders who make decisions about economic development, infrastructure and growth.

Both companies have participated in CICE conversations with Florida chamber leaders. Racquel Asa, Beep’s then- chief marketing officer, joined a CICE clean energy panel at a Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) conference. She discussed autonomous transportation, electrification, and the workforce needed to support those technologies 

Freebee Vice President of Economic Development John Janusz spoke at a recent CICE panel discussion at FACP. He also participated in a CICE-moderated Seminole County Chamber discussion focused on SCOUT and how electric microtransit can expand transportation options.

In October, Lake Nona Regional Chamber members will get an even closer look when Beep hosts the Chamber’s Business After Hours at its Lake Nona headquarters, continuing its close ties with the chambers it supports.

Seminole County Chamber Puts Energy on the Congressional Agenda

Anyone running a business understands that rising energy costs are an issue, and business leaders in Seminole County, Florida, wanted to know what their congressional candidates planned to do about them.

At a recent Seminole County Chamber congressional candidate forum, seven candidates running in the primary for Florida's 7th Congressional District were asked, “How can the federal government stabilize rising energy costs and reduce dependence on foreign oil, particularly through renewables and energy storage?”

Energy has always been a business issue. The Seminole County Chamber’s forum showed how affordability, reliability, and rising demand are quickly pushing it up the agenda. 

It makes sense because energy costs are business costs. Reliability affects existing employers and a community's ability to recruit new ones. Growing communities will need additional generation and infrastructure to support new residents, manufacturers, data centers, and other economic development.

Seminole County Shows How a Candidate Forum’s Done

The forum's structure highlighted important issues for business owners and executives. Three moderators participated in the forum, all local business owners or executives. Each received four questions in advance, with the expectation that time would allow for each moderator to ask only two. Energy was one of the first questions selected.

The chamber event also showed why an all-of-the-above approach can work for chambers. They can discuss nuclear, natural gas, renewables, storage, and other resources related to affordability, reliability, and future demand without requiring a chamber to approach energy through a partisan lens.

For the Seminole County Chamber, the conversation around clean energy isn’t new. The chamber has included energy in its programming through its work with Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE). In 2025, the chamber held a forum on energy and transportation. It offers free EV chargers for its members and has testified on statewide charger policies. It also joined CICE in Washington, D.C., for a fly-in to push for permitting reform. 

While other chambers may not be as engaged in energy issues as the Seminole County Chamber, this shows why energy is an important topic at candidate forums and should be included in legislative agendas. 

Questions about energy costs, generation, reliability, resilience, permitting, and infrastructure can help members understand where candidates stand and help chambers determine where energy fits into their own advocacy work.

For your next candidate forum or questionnaire, check out CICE’s guide, Questions for Candidates: Clean Energy.

Georgia Chamber names EV manufacturer 'Coolest Thing' contest winner

The Coolest Thing Made in Georgia is an electric school bus. The Blue Bird Vision Electric school bus took top honors in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition, a statewide, public vote celebrating the products, manufacturers, and innovation that call Georgia home. The Georgia Chamber announced the winner at its Congressional Luncheon in Athens.

“Georgia is home to innovative companies and products that are making an impact far beyond our state’s borders,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “The Blue Bird Vision Electric School Bus represents the ingenuity and manufacturing excellence that make Georgia a global leader in business. Congratulations to Blue Bird on this achievement and on its nearly century-long legacy of creating innovative products right here in Georgia.”

The recognition is yet another example of how chambers can celebrate the companies and technologies shaping their states’ economic future and help connect clean energy growth to jobs, investment, and local economic opportunity.

Founded in 1927, Blue Bird builds the Vision Electric school bus in Fort Valley, where it has operated as a Georgia business for nearly 100 years. The company employs more than 1,500 people at its Fort Valley manufacturing facility, and more than 4,000 Blue Bird Electric school buses are already operating across the United States. 

The electric bus also highlights Georgia’s growing leadership in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. State leaders have called Georgia the “buckle of the battery belt,” as investment in electric vehicles, batteries, and related manufacturing has brought new businesses and jobs to communities across the state. Blue Bird provides a homegrown example of what that leadership can mean for local communities.

And there is still room to grow. Recent reporting found that while Georgia ranks seventh nationally in EV charging infrastructure, Central Georgia lags other parts of the state. The contrast underscores the opportunity for chambers and economic development organizations to lead: helping their communities understand where the economy is headed, celebrating the businesses already driving that growth, and positioning their regions to capture the jobs and investment that come with it.

By putting a Fort Valley-made electric school bus in the statewide spotlight, the Georgia Chamber is helping show that clean energy innovation is already part of Georgia’s manufacturing story.

“We’d like to thank the Georgia Chamber and all of the voters for being named ‘The Coolest Thing Made in Georgia’ for our zero-emissions electric school bus,” said John Wyskiel, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “This recognition reflects years of innovation, dedication and a shared belief that student transportation can be safer, cleaner and, yes, apparently cooler than we ever imagined.”

Hosting an awards ceremony or creating a public recognition platform to recognize the proactive work of your members and community groups is an easy way to further clean energy adoption. For more examples of successful awards programs, check out CICE’s Toolkit.

Blackstone Chamber of Commerce Supports Approval of Rocky Ford Solar Project

Nottoway, Virginia County Courthouse

In April 2026, the Nottoway County (VA) Board of Supervisors approved the 100-MW Rocky Ford Solar Project following strong support from the local business community. The Blackstone Chamber of Commerce played a leading role in making the business case with support from Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE).
Communities across Virginia continue to look for economic development opportunities that create jobs and strengthen local finances without placing additional pressure on critical local infrastructure. For the Blackstone Chamber, the Rocky Ford Solar Project represented exactly that kind of investment, one that would generate new revenue, support local businesses, and contribute to the county’s long-term economic health.

The Blackstone Chamber helped elevate the business community’s voice throughout the zoning process. In a piece submitted to The Courier-Record, “Rocky Ford Solar Is Right Kind of Growth,” Chamber Chairman Chris Page described the project as “the right kind of growth” for Nottoway County, emphasizing its projected economic benefits and long-term value to local residents and businesses. 

During the construction period alone, local economic output is estimated at $18.7 million, supporting restaurants, contractors, and services across the region. Over the project’s 40-year life span, the site is projected to generate roughly 40 times the revenue it would produce under its current use, creating a lasting source of economic value for the county.  

To support the Blackstone Chamber’s efforts, CICE provided resources to the chamber’s members and local stakeholders illustrating how utility-scale solar projects can benefit host communities. CICE’s Energizing Economies Cohort Chair, Josh Bass, submitted comments to the Board of Supervisors and contributed an opinion piece, “Solar could boost local economy,” to The Courier-Record outlining the project’s broader economic ripple effects. 

“That influx of activity can make a real difference by giving businesses the breathing room they need to reinvest and grow. It helps the restaurant owner replace aging kitchen equipment, the hotel upgrade rooms to stay competitive, and the barber shop bring on that extra employee," Bass wrote. 

Bass’ comments were also read during a public hearing by a community member, ensuring the economic case for the project was shared directly with county leaders and residents. During the final public hearing, CICE’s Bryan Fox also spoke in support of the project and highlighted the benefits responsible solar investments can deliver. 

“As head of the Blackstone Chamber of Commerce, I spend a lot of time thinking about the ‘ideal’ type of economic development for our community. We want projects that build our tax base, support our local shops, and create good jobs, all without overcrowding our classrooms or straining county services. The proposed Rocky Ford Solar Project is a rare example of a development that checks every one of those boxes,” said Page. “It’s the kind of growth that makes sense for rural Virginia.” 

The Key Takeaway

The approval of the Rocky Ford Solar Project demonstrates the important role chambers can play in shaping local economic development conversations and elevating the perspectives of the members they represent. By bringing forward an economic case for clean energy and engaging in the process, the Blackstone Chamber helped secure an investment that has the potential to transform the local economy. 

Other chambers and economic development organizations may look to this effort as an example of how strategic partnerships and consistent local engagement can support successful project outcomes. CICE can support chambers as they evaluate clean energy opportunities in their communities. 

McLean County Chamber Connects Rivian to Workforce Solutions

Rivian representatives came to the Normal, Illinois area to bid on equipment from Mitsubishi Motors' shuttered plant but conversations they overheard at a local coffee shop made them stay.

Mitsubishi shuttered the facility in 2015, leaving behind a massive plant, idle equipment, and more than 1,000 unemployed workers.

Drawn in by the people and the area’s amenities, including an airport, rail lines, and Illinois State University’s 20,000-plus students, the Rivian reps called CEO Robert J. “RJ” Scaringe and said, in effect, “This could be home,” according to Charlie Moore, president and CEO of McLean County Chamber of Commerce. 

Rivian’s senior leadership engaged early on with the five-star accredited, 1,000-member chamber on workforce priorities. Displaced Mitsubishi workers provided a ready manufacturing workforce.

“The secret sauce is your people,” Moore told CICE. “As a chamber, that’s one of the things we can do: be a connector. We probably don’t know the answer, but we probably know who does. I end every conversation the same way: ‘How can I help you?’”

The region’s educational institutions, including Bloomington Career Academy, Heartland Community College’s new advanced manufacturing center, and Illinois State University’s newly launched College of Engineering, have built curricula around Rivian’s hiring needs, according to Moore.

Rivian opened its production line for the R2 this spring. In addition, Rivian partnered with Redwood Materials to deploy a 10-MWh battery energy storage system at its Normal manufacturing facility, repurposing more than 100 second-life Rivian battery packs to lower costs and strengthen grid reliability during peak demand.

Rivian and Uber also announced a partnership in March 2026 to deploy 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis, beginning in San Francisco and Miami in 2028 and expanding to 25 cities by 2031.

Chamber aligns schools with workforce needs

Today, Moore said, the chamber is leading a broader talent alignment strategy, convening the area’s largest employers, including State Farm, Ferrero, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, and Rivian, alongside educators to answer three questions: 

• Where are the workforce gaps? 

• Are we closing them? 

• Who is responsible for closing them? 

For chambers and EDOs interested in attracting clean energy investment and manufacturers, Moore’s advice also comes down to three things:

• Let your economic development partners lead on incentives.

• Support elected officials who are willing to, as Moore said, "take some arrows" for smart risks.

• Lean into the chamber's role as a connector.

Watch Moore’s full conversation with CICE about the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and Rivian.

San Angelo Chamber is Advancing a New Energy Economy in Texas

Michael Looney, vice president of economic development at the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, and his leadership team recruited multiple 200-400 MW energy projects to the region surrounding the West Texas city of approximately 100,000 residents. 

“The chamber wanted to explore ways we could encourage and directly support the development of renewable energy production facilities that would bolster our economy, create new kinds of technical career opportunities, and allow our county to participate in the provision of electrical energy to the Texas power grid,” said Looney.

In 2015, Looney and his chamber team embarked on achieving two priority goals:

1.  To diversify the San Angelo economy into clean energy development and position the San Angelo Chamber as a national leader in that sector.

2.  Equally important: To lead this new initiative with transparency and open communication, provide the community with reliable information.  

Looney and his team successfully recruited 1.2 GW of electric generation within the San Angelo and Tom Green County borders, accomplishing the chamber’s economic and job creation goals. These projects include four utility-scale solar power plants and one 200-MW battery energy storage system.

San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development Michael Looney on Capitol Hill

“We believe the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce has become one of the strongest proponents of clean energy development in the United States. The chamber is now a catalyst and headquarters for renewable energy development, not just in our county, but across a five-county region known geographically as the Concho Valley,” Looney said. “We have led by example. We have attracted renewable energy developments in wind, solar, and battery energy storage from Canada, the United States, Israel and South Korea. Our clean energy initiatives have successfully complemented our thriving oil and natural gas development services sectors as well. At all levels, our renewable and O&G companies work well together in the area, and in one instance, a national O&G company directly invested in 50% of one of our solar power plants.”

San Angelo’s energy economy continues to diversify beyond new clean energy generation. The Chamber helped land a solar panel recycler for its community and developed a new, privately-owned 184-acre rail port, designed in part to accept wind turbine nacelles and blades for transloading to final regional destinations.

Looney joined CICE for its April 2026 D.C. Fly-In with other chamber and economic development leaders, taking full advantage of the opportunity to share with lawmakers how clean energy powers the San Angelo area’s economy. Whether working with the business community, local, state or federal elected officials, educational leaders or residents, Looney is building bridges to advance a strong clean energy economy and future for his community.

“Clean energy is not a political stance. It is an innovative, cost-effective, efficient and durable method of power generation, which in turn reduces the pressure on other industries that are solely reliant on fossil fuels. We’re excited about our success in the clean energy sector, and to continue our mission to lead the way,” said Looney. 

Great Falls Development Alliance Shows How EDOs Can Lead on Energy Business Development

Economic development organizations (EDOs) are increasingly on the front lines of one of the biggest factors shaping business growth: energy. As companies look for places to expand, questions around reliability, cost, capacity, and speed to deploy infrastructure are becoming central to site selection and investment decisions. 

The Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA), in conjunction with the Montana Energy Business Alliance (MEBA), offered a clear example of how EDOs can step into this role. At an April 2026 event, they brought together business leaders, utility representatives, and infrastructure voices for a focused discussion on what Montana needs to remain competitive for investment. 

Kyle Unruh, Montana & Idaho Director at Renewable Northwest, facilitated the panel conversation, which featured Brett Doney of Great Falls Development Alliance, Ed Rihn of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Montana, Jim Morin of PowerGas Corp, Rob Worden of Vision Net, and Tom Pankeatz of NorthWestern Energy. Together, they addressed the issues many business communities are facing right now: reliability, affordability, capacity, transmission, pipeline constraints, regional market access, and the speed at which infrastructure can move from concept to reality.

“Energy infrastructure is key to support existing businesses but also to make us competitive to attract more,” said Brett Doney, president and CEO, GFDA and Treasurer, MEBA. “Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA) is the only economic development organization in Montana with a full-time energy business development officer.” 

That distinction reflects a broader strategy. GFDA serves the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and a 13-county rural and tribal trade region, and it has made energy a core part of its business development approach. This strategy aligns with MEBA’s work to bring together business and energy leaders to advance policies and investments that sustain Montana’s industries, strengthen communities, and deliver reliable, affordable energy. This leadership is key in a place like Great Falls, where energy has long been part of the region’s identity and economic foundation. Hydropower helped build the community and earned it the name “Electric City.” Today, that legacy continues in the region in new forms through wind, solar, battery storage, sustainable aviation fuel production, transmission opportunities, and the broader infrastructure needed to support business growth. GFDA’s approach recognizes that energy is not a separate issue—it is a prerequisite for growth.

GFDA connected these issues to the day-to-day work of economic development and led a strategic business conversation grounded in the realities employers face and the opportunities the region wants to capture. 

Other chambers and EDOs can learn from this example. Energy leadership doesn’t require technical expertise alone—it requires convening the right stakeholders, grounding conversations in business impacts, and treating energy as a core economic development priority. Done well, this approach strengthens regional alignment and gives business communities a more credible voice in conversations about infrastructure, growth, and competitiveness.

St. Petersburg Chamber Leader Makes the Business Case for Clean Energy in Florida

St. Petersburg Chamber Leader Makes the Business Case for Clean Energy in Florida
In a recent op-ed, Tara Lynn Hubbard—chair of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability & Resilience Committee—joins Clean Energy Help founder Caleb Quaid to lay out a clear, business-driven path forward for energy in Florida.

Watch our interview with Tara Hubbard.
Writing in the Tampa Bay Times (available without a paywall here), Hubbard and Quaid make the case that Florida’s economic future is tied to smart energy investment—leveraging the state’s natural resources, infrastructure, and growing clean energy sector.

“True energy security — the kind that keeps our lights on during hurricanes and stabilizes our monthly bills — cannot be found at the bottom of the Gulf. It is found in a resilient, diversified energy grid, powered by distributed clean energy technologies.”

A Practical, Business-First Framework
One recommendation stands out: prioritize energy investments with low operating costs and long asset lives.

For chamber and economic development leaders, that means:

• Lower long-term energy costs

• Reduced exposure to fuel price volatility

• More skilled, local jobs

It’s a pragmatic approach that aligns with how businesses think about risk, competitiveness, and growth.

A Call for Business Leadership
In her conversation with CICE, Hubbard—who also runs a family-owned tourism business on Florida’s Gulf Coast—underscored the role chambers can play in advancing these conversations.

She describes chambers as a “container for connection,” uniquely positioned to share best practices across the business community, connect members with emerging energy opportunities, and elevate business perspectives in state and federal policy discussions.

Importantly, she notes that while energy conversations are often led by environmental or technical stakeholders, the business voice brings a critical and underutilized perspective—one that can help move clean energy forward in a durable, bipartisan way.

Read the full op-ed: Here’s why it’s Florida’s moment to lead on renewable energy: ‘No Drilling’ is not a strategy

Watch the interview.