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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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.  With a strong manufacturing backbone, Greensboro-Randolph Megasite was a prime location for the $1.29 billion investment. Toyota will catapult NC into the growing battery storage industry; creating close to 2,000 new, good paying jobs, and making an impressive contribution to a cleaner and healthier environment.  “Toyota’s decision to build a facility at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite validates the strength of this region’s labor force, infrastructure and our ability to build regional partnerships to get things done,” Christensen shared. “This is an exciting time for our region.”  Attracting Toyota to the megasite was a long time coming, and took many organizations, such as local government, utilities, colleges, and nonprofits to pull together to make the job-creating, investment-loaded opportunity come to life. The chamber played a key role in the siting and incentive package for the megasite, working alongside the Governor’s office and many others to make the Greensboro-Randolph area and North Carolina as appealing as possible for investors. “Economic development is a team sport,” says Christensen.  Chambers of commerce, as the voice of business, are always a key economic development ally and one of the strongest advocates for clean energy development. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is on its way in helping to build a clean energy economy and securing good paying jobs for its community and region.

Hear Brent Christensen on the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast describe what it was like to take part in landing Toyota’s first-ever US battery manufacturing plant.

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

Event Recap: Hot Topics in FL Clean Energy: Rooftop Solar, Federal EV Money & More

If you would like to rewatch or share the event with your members, you can watch it on our Youtube channel here. While there, please subscribe to be alerted for any future events.

Net Metering, Rooftop Solar, Electric Vehicle, and Legislation Follow-Up:

Net Metering/Rooftop Solar If you would like to read the report developed by the Washington Economics Group for Conservatives for Clean Energy, and The Comprehensive Economic Development Impacts of the Rooftop Solar Power Industry on the State of Florida, you can find that here.  Our organization has also developed two information documents dealing with the rooftop solar issue. The two papers are: SB 1024 & HB 741- Renewable Energy Generation: Changes to Florida’s Net Metering Policy Net Metering Background Information for Florida Chambers of Commerce Bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and EV Toolkit “If you are a small business, make sure you are building those relationships with potential joint venture partners and your DOT district office. It’s vital right now that you are developing those strategic relationships.” Kimberly Rosier Jean-Louis During the discussion regarding investment dollars coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Kimberly Rosier Jean-Louis provided great information for chambers and businesses to ensure they can capitalize on the more than $7 billion coming for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Here is the follow up from her: You can find more information about the Orlando MBDA Business Center, as they help businesses with all types of business issues.  You can read Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure; the toolkit we referenced in the webinar.  Finally, Kimberly discussed a program Duke Energy is undertaking to help create and grow businesses in the clean energy space. You can find more information about Duke’s Diversity in Clean Energy program. Additional Clean Energy & EV Bills “This is an exciting time as there are real resources available and others on the horizon as well.” Congressman Darren Soto  We wrapped up talking about some of the bills that are moving in Tallahassee this session, including legislation dealing with our state’s vehicle fleets, floating solar and permitting for solar.  Scott Thomassan, our policy expert for the discussion, passed along these links for bills that look like they may pass this year: SB 1338: Floating Solar Facilities (Diaz) HB 1411: Floating Solar Facilities (Avila)   SB 954 EV Fleet Procurement & Solar Permitting (Brodeur) HB 1139 EV Fleet Procurement & Solar Permitting (Drake) “There’s another EV bill that will be a big debate next session that takes on who is building these charging stations and what that market will look like.” Scott Thomasson At Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, we’re looking forward to what’s next on the horizon and you’re ahead of the game by hearing about the big issue for the 2023 Legislative Session, about the electronic vehicle industry. While they are not expected to pass this year, it is looking like this may be the focus of our legislature next year. Be even more prepared by reviewing the bills filed this year: SB 920: EV Transportation Electrification Plan (Perry) HB 737 EV Transportation Electrification Plan (Borrero)   Again, thank you for participating in our webinar. We look forward to keeping you informed on issues that affect your members and your community.

For further follow-up information contact Alan Byrd or Anne Feldhusen

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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." This editorial was published by the Mineral Daily News-Tribune on February 4, 2022. 

I look forward to W.Va. returning to its rightful role Thanks to the long negotiations and teamwork that makes our country’s democratic process so unique, the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed, delivering billions of dollars for critical improvements improving the lives of all West Virginians.   Clean energy, heavy broadband investment, and improved roads will provide thousands of jobs in West Virginia. It will bolster our economy, provide equal learning opportunities for our students, and greatly increase business opportunities. Infrastructure and a diverse business environment are essential for West Virginia growth. Job developers and site selectors clearly see the opportunity that West Virginia possesses. As we continue to navigate undeniable economic hardship due to the global pandemic, the need for meaningful jobs is dire, and I can affirm that clean energy projects have aided in this need. In Mineral County, numerous clean energy projects have not only brought renewables into the state but have brought economic development to underserved areas and secured jobs for West Virginians in need of work. This has resulted in the start of a smooth transition into an even more diverse energy portfolio—one that makes West Virginia economically competitive and desirable. From my thoroughly enjoyable interactions with these developers in my role, it only excites me to know that there is more to come. Additionally, this historic plan stands to combat the driving forces for disastrous climate events and reinforce our protective infrastructure—such as the disastrous flooding that West Virginians know all too well. As Senator Manchin attests, West Virginians are some of the hardest workers in the United States. This framework will only continue to set our residents up for economic security, job fulfillment, and innovation. I commend both our Senators and Congressman McKinley for their commitment to our state and encourage them to continue this meaningful work toward diversifying West Virginia’s job and energy portfolio by supporting clean energy investment provisions in upcoming legislation. I look forward to seeing The Mountain State back in its role as the country’s leading energy producer.  Randy Crane is the president of the Mineral 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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Excellence in Clean Energy Leadership: Top Ten Chamber Stories of 2021

MA Speaker Mariano Unveils Plans to Invest Big in the Offshore Wind Industry at Boston Chamber Event

Massachusetts House Speaker, Ron Mariano, unveiled a plan to make major financial investments that will turn the South Coast into “a hub of wind energy for the region” at a recent virtual event with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Speaker Marino added that the House plans to give $10 million to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to prioritize job training programs that prepare workers for offshore wind construction.  Read the full CIA

OH Chambers and ED Oppose State Efforts to Thwart Massive Solar Investment

Ohio now has an opportunity to capture more than $18 billion of investment from utility scale solar developments. If realized, that would land Ohio as the state with the 3rd highest solar investment pipeline.  Additionally, according to a recent survey, a clear majority of Ohio voters support solar development and welcome it in their community.  Read the full CIA

Tampa Bay Chamber VP of Advocacy Writes Op-Ed on Importance of Clean Energy in the Business Community

Clean energy and resilience have become integral measures of a region’s overall competitiveness. That’s a key reason for The Tampa Bay Chamber’s decision to include goals in its policy platform to advance them both and to engage the business community in supporting local action surrounding these priorities that are flexible, predictable, and durable. Read the full CIA

Chamber, Businesses, and City Leaders Prioritize Arizona's Needs for Federal Infrastructure Investment

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, in partnership with Arizona Forward and the City of Tempe Office of Sustainability, led a three part series of workshops in June with Arizona business and community leaders. The workshops provided a forum for candid and detailed discussions with congressional staff about the priorities for Arizona regarding infrastructure needs, especially as they relate to clean energy and sustainability investments.  Read the full CIA

Senator Tillis, NC Chambers, and Industry Leaders Drive Home Leadership Opportunities in EV Innovation

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis, North Carolina chambers of commerce, economic development executives, and industry leaders gathered for a dialogue on what’s at stake for the state’s electrification industry. “It is exciting to see the progress we’re making in the area of renewable energy, and to see the opportunities that we have in the United States to be an innovator and a leader particularly when talking about medium to heavy duty electric vehicles,” said Senator Tillis.  Read the full CIA

How to Navigate and Lead in Clean Energy and Climate Discussions

Chambers of commerce and economic development organizations are claiming their seat at the table when it comes to clean energy policy, resilience, and climate discussions. Clean energy and climate are everyday conversations in the business and policy world. With solar and wind energy becoming the cheapest form of new electric generation, and 70 percent of Fortune 100 companies setting clean energy goals, the transition to sustainable energy is undeniable. Read the full CIA

Ohio Chambers Tour North America's Largest Solar Manufacturer and Discuss the Future of Solar in their Communities

In light of $18 billion economic investment on the line in the state with utility scale solar development, Ohio chamber of commerce and economic development leaders are eager to learn how they can support this opportunity in their counties. Many of these chamber leaders and other economic leaders gathered recently at First Solar in Perrysburg, the largest solar module manufacturer in the Western hemisphere to participate in a conversation on how to best navigate conflict with utility-scale solar development.  Read the full CIA

The Clean Energy Economy Bodes Well for AZ Jobs & Economic Growth

Chambers and business leaders discuss the opportunities associated with Arizona investing in a clean energy economy, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, and other federal policies that could positively impact the state. Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) opened the session by providing an overview of the proposed infrastructure bills in Congress and the effects climate change is playing on our economy and quality of life, saying “Arizona, and our entire nation needs to invest in infrastructure.”  Read the full CIA

NC Chamber Leaders Gather to Learn About the Offshore Wind Industry and the Opportunities it Holds

Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy hosted its first-ever Chamber of Commerce North Carolina Offshore Wind Summit on Friday October 27 in Wilmington, NC, a hot spot area for offshore wind development. Chamber and economic development leaders heard from experts in the industry and saw firsthand the $109 billion economic potential of offshore wind (OSW) through supply chain opportunities and development off the coast. Read the full CIA

Chamber Led Study Recommends CT Step Up its Offshore Wind Game

“The report highlights the economic opportunities available and our advantages in attracting those opportunities, and challenges that can keep the state from realizing the maximum potential offered by offshore wind power,” says The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut President and CEO, Tony Sheridan.  Read the full CIA

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

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Chamber Led Study Recommends Connecticut Step Up Its Offshore Wind Game

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, alongside Eversource and Ørsted, commissioned a report done by McAllister Marine Engineering LLC, Embracing the Potential of Offshore Wind in Connecticut: A Study of Opportunities and Challenges, that offers recommendations for the state to better harness the benefits of the offshore wind industry, emphasizing the state’s deep-water ports, stellar supply chain, manufacturing ability, and skilled workforce. “The report highlights the economic opportunities available and our advantages in attracting those opportunities, and challenges that can keep the state from realizing the maximum potential offered by offshore wind power,” says The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut President and CEO, Tony Sheridan.  Offshore wind is already an increasingly sought after source of renewable energy as the price continues to drop and many states like CT make clean energy goals. Existing wind farms, Revolution Wind in New London, developed by Eversource and Orsted, and Park City Wind in Bridgeport, developed by Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, offer the region economic development opportunities, job growth, and increased revenue. A big advocate for renewable and sustainable energy, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said, “We are encouraged by the fact that we have the assets in place to secure Connecticut’s role as a leader in the offshore wind industry and renewable energy.” Also saying, “We look forward to supporting our private sector partners as we further strengthen our position in this emerging industry and maximize its benefits to the environment, job growth, economic development and our future as a state.” Sheridan said the report offers a “detailed analysis of the industry and a guide for businesses looking to expand by pivoting from their current operations to add the billion-dollar offshore wind industry to their portfolios.” Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) even featured the report on their website, highlighting CT’s need to leverage offshore wind opportunities.  Report highlights include: Deep water ports, unobstructed access to open water, the aerospace industry, and high-tech supply chain serving submarine manufacturers make CT a superior location for offshore wind Many pre-existing manufacturing businesses have the potential to grow their business with new demand The prevalent aerospace industry features highly skilled workers in electrical discharge machining, a skill set also used in the complex geometries of each wind turbine CT cannot succeed and thrive alone, it truly is a regional effort European developers may choose to utilize their existing non-U.S. based manufacturing facilities if there is a lack of support, or fierce competition, resulting in the loss of potential new jobs, and economic development opportunities With thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars of new investments on the line, the report makes it clear, the time is now, and the “once in a generation” opportunity is here. CT must leverage the offshore wind industry and work within the region to secure a better, cleaner, and more prosperous future and economy for all.  Learn more, check out the full report here

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

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FL Businesses Encouraged to Work with Insurers and Government to Stabilize Insurance Costs

Florida has come a long way in a relatively short time to understand that the climate is changing and that businesses and residents alike need a plan. The link between the climate crisis and insurance rates has prompted insurers to evaluate  the amount of risk they are willing to take as weather disasters become increasingly intense. Insurance rates for property and business owners in the sunshine state are rising rapidly in some locations.   Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) partnered with Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce to discuss how chambers, businesses, insurers, and local governments can work together to build climate resiliency and stabilize insurance costs. Speakers included: Dan Lindblade, CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Anita Byers, President, Setnor Byer Insurance Chris Sharek, Senior Project Manager, Jacobs and Board of Directors, Manatee Chamber of Commerce Alex Reed, Director, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection Florida Department of Environmental Protection Data confirming the climate crisis is undeniable and “It’s shocking that we go on with business as usual,” says Dan Lindblade. He encouraged chambers to discuss climate resilience within their board of directors and work to educate members on the issue. Climate risk includes droughts, fires, excessive heat, storm surge, flooding and sea level rise.  The groups insuring against these events include insurance companies, financial institutions, and the government. The cost of climate risk (internationally) is 2% gross of domestic product (GDP), but it is expected to rise to 4% by 2050 due to climate induced costs. While most insurance companies recognize the magnitude of climate risk, fewer than half have taken real steps to resolve the risks, but insurance companies are changing their perspective. Insurance companies are no longer worried about scaring away banks by talking about climate impacts. Historical models, which have been used to project climate risk, are no longer viable due to the increased pace of climate change.   In Florida insurance companies are getting more selective on what properties they will insure. This change could result in a 100-150% increase on older properties, especially if the roof is older, and a 10-15% increase for newer properties/roofs. Climate risk is also impacting other types of risk, including general liability and directors and officer claims.  “The business community must be proactive. For so long, risk was simply transferred to the insurance company and property owners washed their hands of the risk. Property owners need to start now to make sure their risk is the type of risk that they are willing to fund themselves, because if they aren’t willing to fund it themselves, they may not find anyone else to fund it,” says Anita Byers.  With extreme weather becoming more dangerous and destructive, it’s important to be proactive and look for solutions before the next storm or flood hits. Chris Sharek with Jacobs said we need to be “solution focused” when talking about climate resilience. Jacobs, an engineering firm, has been working on climate resiliency projects throughout the state, aiding businesses of all kinds to be proactive. One project in particular, executed for Tyndall Air Force Base, included a 4 billion dollar rebuild of the base to create a new design standard as a result of the damages endured by Hurricane Michael. This is a prime example of the private sector throwing their hat in the ring and making efforts towards climate resiliency alongside government entities.  State and local governments play a vital role in climate discussions. Senate Bill 1954, signed by Gov. DeSantis in May 2021, otherwise referred to as the climate resilience legislation has four key components.  Affirms  that Florida has a problem with sea level rise and flooding.  Introduces a grant program to help communities adapt.  Affirms this is a state issue, not just a coastal issue.  Outlines the need for a statewide vulnerability assessment with prioritized funding going to the most critical assets.   This legislation has been a great first step for advancing climate resiliency throughout the state. Alex Reed with the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the state department tasked with implementing SB 1954, said businesses can be a big help by reaching out to their local government in support of climate legislation. “This needs to be a community effort,” says Reed. Not every community has the same assets or needs, but the business community can help identify regionally significant assets that may support adjacent communities.  Businesses of all sizes will continue to be affected by the climate crisis, especially in a high risk state such as Florida. Taking action as a chamber is beneficial for members, and the community in which everyone serves. Chambers have the opportunity to lead by example and work alongside government entities and businesses to ensure a better future for all. Claim your seat at the table and be prepared for a bumpy ride. Watch the full video here.

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

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