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. 

Two Mid-Atlantic States See Close to Half-a-Million in Revenue from Onshore Wind Farms

“It is really exciting to be on the cutting edge of renewable energy and to be involved with Apex [Clean Energy.]” That’s what Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce Board President Peter Pearl recently said about a proposed wind farm that is planned as Virginia’s first onshore wind farm.

The Rocky Forge Wind Farm, a project of Apex Clean Energy, will represent a significant private investment in Botetourt County, which lies in Virginia’s Roanoke Region. In addition to adding new jobs, it is expected to generate $20 to $25 million in state and county tax revenue over the life of the project as well as drive decades of increased local purchasing, employment, and investment.

“This project is just another indicator of Botetourt’s focus on economic development and follows on the heels of several substantial announcements in the last year,” said Botetourt County Chamber Executive Director Doloris Vest. “Focusing on the energy of the future is just one way support the business of the future.”

Virginia’s southern neighbor recently launched its first wind farm, which the local chamber President and board President said they were thrilled to see operational. North Carolina’s Amazon U.S. East wind farm in Elizabeth City put to work more than 500 North Carolinians and brought in $18 million in investments. The project also will inject more than $1.1 million in landowner payments and taxes a year.

“Growing renewable energy in Virginia is not just about a healthier environment or a broader energy mix; it is also about economic growth and diversification,” Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said early this year. “We are committed to giving innovative companies the tools they need when deciding where to locate and grow their operations.” The Governor toured the proposed farm site prior to construction.

Across the U.S., corporations and utilities are increasingly demanding wind energy because it has become one of the nation’s most affordable sources of electricity. In fact, in many parts of the country, it is cheaper to install a new wind energy generation facility than any other type of generation facility. It is also not subject to price fluctuations as many other forms of energy are.

VA Local Chamber, Senator, and Military Eye the Clean Energy Opportunity

At a recent event held at the Chamber of Commerce in Hampton Roads—the east coast epicenter of military activity—Sen. Frank Wagner spoke directly about the urgent need for Virginia to seize the economic development opportunities in clean energy:

“If Virginia acts quickly, and puts the right policies into place, we can take a leadership role in the development of clean energy technologies,” Sen. Wagner said. “If we don’t, we will either be left behind, or will end up with enormous utility rates.”

The Hampton Roads Chamber, which has 2,500 member businesses, hosted Sen. Wagner and Dr. Leo Goff, a retired Navy Captain and national security expert, to brief businesses on:

• How economic and national security interests are driving the U.S. Military to make significant investments in clean energy, and

• How member businesses and the local workforce are positioned to take advantage of the job growth and investment opportunities in clean energy.

“With the right market-driven policies in place, Hampton Roads can capture a significant share of new clean energy jobs and investments,” said Bryan Stephens is the President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, “and we want to help our member businesses do just that.”

In the Hampton Roads region, which includes the popular Virginia Beach area, construction firms are conducting energy efficiency retrofits and installing solar panels; and manufacturing plants are being repurposed to produce supply chain components for wind turbines and battery storage.

Dr. Goff, a Program Manager for CNA’s Military Advisory Board, an elite group of retired three- and four-star flag and general officers, pointed out that neighboring North Carolina is leading Virginia as a producer of solar energy because they have the policies that encourage it.

“The second-largest producer of solar in the nation is North Carolina,” said Goff. “They’re just one state to the south, so it’s not a matter of geography; it’s a matter of the policies.”

In VA, Roanoke Chamber Hosts Governor, Clean Energy Business Roundtable

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted Gov. McAuliffe at a Clean Energy Business Roundtable in September to highlight the economic benefits clean energy is delivering to the businesses and communities of Southwest Virginia—and how to continue to grow clean energy investments and jobs.

“In Virginia, our investment in clean energy has quadrupled,” Gov. McAuliffe said. “I want the solar panels, the turbines, and the wind blades to all be manufactured in Virginia. We need to be a clean energy leader, and we’re just starting to kick that barn door wide open.”

In a Roanoke Times op-ed, Roanoke Chamber President and CEO Joyce Waugh underscored the chamber’s commitment to attracting clean energy investments. In a piece co-authored with with Larry Cummings of Trane, a global leader in air conditioning and innovator in energy efficiency, Waugh wrote:

“Here in Virginia, companies like Amazon and Microsoft have shown their commitment to renewable energy by procuring energy from solar installations. To continue to attract companies like these that care about clean energy, we need to ensure that policies are in place that support energy efficiency and renewable energy for businesses and residents.”

Read the op-ed here.

VA Local Chambers Say “100,000 Times Yes” to Clean Energy

During last month’s annual Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives conference, local chamber leaders were asked: “Do you agree it makes good economic sense for Virginia to move forward with a plan to increase the use of clean energy?”

In completing the survey, one chamber executive answered with a check plus, one with three checks, and another with “100,000 times yes.” In all, 100 percent of the respondents answered positively.

The economic opportunity of clean energy was also the subject of a conference session moderated by the Roanoke Regional Chamber that attracted leaders of the Arlington, Bedford, Franklin-Southampton, Harrisonburg, Loudon County, Reston, and Radford chambers.

"Our chamber was pleased to moderate this conversation to explore how local chambers can attract new members and help existing ones save money with clean energy,” said Cally Smith, Vice President of Membership & Brand Strategy for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Following the conference, local chambers and member companies joined the Virginia Governor’s Advisor for Infrastructure and Development, Hayes Framme, for a conversation about the economic opportunities of clean energy. He invited chambers that want connect with the Virginia Division of Energy Agency to contact him at Hayes.Framme@governor.virginia.gov.

Tony Howard, President and CEO of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, kicked off the conversation with examples of how his chamber is helping his member companies prosper in the clean energy space.

In other related Virginia business developments:

• Microsoft announced an innovative public-private partnership with the Commonwealth and Dominion Virginia Power that will bring 20 megawatts of new solar energy, or enough to power 5,000 homes, onto the grid.

• McAuliffe also recently announced that he believes Amazon, Google, and Microsoft will only do business in states that can provide renewable energy to power their operations.”