CHAMBERS IN ACTION

Local chambers across the country are taking the lead in creating and convening clean energy conversations, best practices, events and advocating on local policy.

Jennifer Zajac Jennifer Zajac

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.

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Jennifer Zajac Jennifer Zajac

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.


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Chambers for Innovation Chambers for Innovation

Chamber Leader, Miller Electric Company - Getting the Jump on Electrifying Transportation

Miller Electric Company, a proud member of the JAX Chamber and Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and ten-year sponsor of the Jacksonville Jaguar’s new solar-powered training facility, the Miller Electric Center, recently broke ground on their newest venture, the Electric Vehicle Innovation Design Center (EVIDC). This new center, a partnership with CBRE, Schneider Electric, Graybar and WB Engineers and Consultants, is being built in response to the rapid shift to an electrified transportation system and will serve as a resource for people to better understand electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging and infrastructure, as well as microgrids.  


At the groundbreaking, Henry Brown, Miller Electric’s CEO, explained, “At Miller Electric we believe that sustainability and economic progress go hand in hand. We really see this as an opportunity to grow jobs and invest in our community”. Brown also noted that in ten years, half of cars for sale will be electric. Kerri Stewart, Chief Strategy Officer at Miller Electric and JAX Chamber Board member, added, “We are proud to spearhead decarbonization efforts in Jacksonville and Florida while revolutionizing the way commercial consumers engage with the EV industry.”

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan also spoke at the groundbreaking. “If we are the leader (in EV technology) then that creates all kinds of job opportunities, workforce opportunities - so this is exactly the type of technology I like to see us grow in Jacksonville.” 


The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) participated in the event as well, bringing along electrified city buses. The Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) also voiced their support and readiness for transportation electrification.  


With ambitious growth projections, people may wonder how Miller Electric is finding trained staff to meet their goals - a challenge across the board for growing clean energy businesses. One way is through the DOD SkillBridge program - a program bridging the transition for veterans leaving the military and entering the private sector. Miller provides a three to six month internship opportunity to learn electrical skills on the job. As a member of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Miller works with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) locals across North America to ensure skilled trade professionals are trained and certified on the latest EV charging technologies.


Stay tuned for more news on Miller EV Solutions and Jacksonville’s progress in EV charging (www.millerev.com).

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


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Chambers for Innovation Chambers for Innovation

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.