Set Your Chamber’s Energy Priorities
Define your priorities and establish a position on energy issues
A clear energy policy or position statement gives your organization a foundation for engaging members, policymakers, developers, and community leaders. Explore examples from chambers and economic development organizations around the country and see how others have defined their priorities.
Create a Policy or Position Statement
As clean energy and climate policies are increasingly linked to economic growth and community well-being, adopting a policy or position statement demonstrates your commitment to sustainability and positions you as a forward-thinking leader poised to drive innovation, attract investment, and foster a resilient economy.
Collaborate with your board or public policy/government affairs committee to determine your chamber’s sustainability, clean energy, or climate position. You can simply add a statement to your website or incorporate language into your existing public policy platform. By addressing these critical subjects, your chamber will showcase your priorities and leadership and provide clear guidance for staff in external discussions and media interactions.
Check out these chambers in action:
Do you need help getting started? Here's some sample language to help craft a position for your chamber:
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To continue powering [our state’s] competitive economy, we support policies that facilitate the expansion of our growing clean energy economy, modernize the grid, and keep energy prices as affordable as possible.
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We support clean energy-related economic development opportunities and policies that diversify our economic base, encourage job creation, generate new sources of tax revenue, and attract sustainable business development companies with strong clean energy goals.
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We support policies that acknowledge the importance of long-term environmental sustainability. We believe that strong economic development and sustainability policies can and should work together for the good of our state.
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We support the rapidly growing clean energy economy that has helped establish [our state] as a national leader in clean energy development. We encourage the state legislature to continue to look for opportunities to grow this segment of our state's economy.
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In the face of increasing energy demand, we support the continued expansion of clean energy sources of generation and infrastructure modernization to ensure reliable and affordable energy in our state.
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We support the continued transition of the energy sector to clean, renewable energy sources that reduce our nation's reliance on fossil fuels and promote both national and economic security.
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Business Advocacy & Public Policy Guide
In their Natural Resources & The Environment policies, the chamber supports:
“Initiatives to ensure U.S. energy independence.”
“Exploring opportunities to bring new green energy industries to Billings.”
“Efforts to modernize and strengthen Montana’s energy grid to improve reliability.”
Additionally, they oppose:
“Policies designed to slow or prevent the development of an innovative green energy business sector.”
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The Boulder Chamber leads its community with an engaging and comprehensive policy program. The Chamber’s 2024 Policy Framework has an extensive issue and position statement on climate and energy for a collaborative future.
“We believe clean energy powers the future of business and recognize that the sustainability of Boulder’s economy depends on new developments in clean energy industries like wind, solar and smart-grid applications. At the same time, advancements in these technologies and the pursuit of new mechanisms for delivering electric services must adhere to critical values, such as price competitiveness, system reliability, and adequate access to energy resources.”
Boulder Chamber’s bottom line on climate and energy: “We support the expeditious achievement of clean energy and climate protection goals and will be a leader in that endeavor. Achieving clean energy goals and local innovation is dependent on partnerships across the public and private sectors that facilitate the exchange of ideas and the understanding of impacts.”
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The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Greater Iowa City, Inc. released their 2024 Public Policy Priorities with significant input from their combined 2,000 members, investors, partners, and community stakeholders.
“Iowa’s use of renewable energy sources is the highest in the nation according to a recent report by the American Clean Power Association. Smart sustainability practices are key to business attraction. Companies seeking to relocate are increasingly looking to find 100% renewable energy sources to power their businesses and attract a younger workforce. It is essential policy makers work with private industry to address known and emerging cyber threats and incentivize smart cybersecurity practices. We must continue to leverage new funding sources to develop strategies and incentives that prepare workers for the future and allow businesses to grow and thrive.”
Additionally, they “support policies, rules and regulations that encourage the production of renewable, alternative energy resources, and biomanufacturing such as ethanol, nuclear, hydrogen, solar and wind that are environmentally responsible and keep energy costs down.”
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“Priorities:
Support efforts to streamline and grow our economic incentive toolbox, including the use of Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) and Tax Increment Finance (TIF) to enhance our economic development opportunities in Hamilton County
Support energy efficiency and conservation initiatives that preserve our natural beauty while simultaneously avoiding a negative economic impact to the business community
Support federal efforts that will improve interagency coordination and engagement with the broad stakeholder community to reduce the risks from climate change for companies and communities across the country, prepare ahead of environmentally driven crises, and strengthen our national security
Support our state’s leading role in the growing electric vehicle market
Support efforts by city and county to invest in more electric vehicle charging stations”
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Environmental Sustainbility & Climate Action Task Force Report
“Guiding Principles
A reasonable and predictable regulatory environment will attract and retain private-sector investment in decarbonization strategies.
Market-based solutions will enable cross-sector collaboration that will balance carbon removal and sequestration and will capitalize on the benefits of transitioning to closed-loop systems.
Targets and goals based on best available science and quality data provide the most realistic action plan for achieving targets. Lowerst-cost options must be identified and pursued.
Solutions must be able to scale regionally and nationally.
A policy and economic environment that fosters innovation and public and private-sector investment will allow for study and identification of new solutions in areas where targets cannot yet be feasibly met, either because of cost or technology.”
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Climate & Energy Public Policy
“Regions that best prepare, mitigate, and adapt to the realities of climate change can also unlock and retain economic opportunities. New clean industries and products are developed in our region, driving job growth and innovation. Fostering these opportunities, and ensuring that trained, diverse talent is available to these employers should be a priority as the economy makes this transition.”
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“Sustainability is not just a buzzword for businesses in the region. It is a catalyst for innovation, collaboration and growth across Greater Cleveland. Our companies are focused on initiatives and cross-sector partnerships that enable growth and competitiveness while also creating a better environment in our region.”
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State & Federal Policy Agendas
“The Partnership supports policies and balanced regulatory practices that ensure energy remains safe, affordable and reliable, while promoting Iowa’s renewable energy sources and avoiding directives or cross subsidies.”
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Leading the Global Energy Transition
“As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston has both the opportunity and responsibility to lead the energy transition to a more efficient, energy-abundant, low-carbon world. We know that global demand for energy is growing, particularly in developing nations. At the same time, there is compelling evidence that high levels of CO2 emissions are impacting our climate. It’s a problem that must be addressed.
The Partnership is committed to working alongside the business community, stakeholders, elected officials and others to identify solutions to take on the dual challenge of meeting the world’s increasing energy needs while lowering the world’s carbon footprint. No other city in the world has the expertise and the know-how to solve this problem. As a region, we must combine our scientific, academic, and commercial efforts to work to innovate and develop new technologies that address these problems.”
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Greater Louisville Inc. (KY): Statement on Electric Vehicles
“Kentucky has seen significant investments in electric vehicle production announced recently. To support the increase in electric vehicles and ensure that Kentucky becomes a hub for this growing market sector, Kentucky must implement a visible, robust, and reliable fast-charging network across our state’s roadways.”
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The plan is organized around six pillar policy areas, including:
“Superior Infrastructure and Energy — Investments are necessary to continue to improve the state’s infrastructure to not only meet current needs, but to strategically position the state and regions within the state for economic development opportunities and the implementation of new technologies.”
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The capital city’s chamber addresses energy at all three levels of government, with language directed at innovation and economic competitiveness.
2026 Key Federal Policy Objectives include support for:
“Agriculture’s vital role in developing sustainable energy”
“Market-based, long-term plans to create more available and affordable energy”
The chamber adds “Action on Climate Change will require collaboration among all stakeholders. Inaction is not a viable option, and we believe business can and should play an important role in developing innovations to reduce greenhouse gases.”
2026 Key State Policy Objectives:
“Our public and private energy sectors are central components of successful economic growth and competitiveness.”
2026 Key Local Policy Objectives:
“Demand for renewable energy is increasing, especially among Fortune 500 companies, and we are confident they will continue to drive demand. As we work to attract investment from many of these businesses to our community, we will engage industry leaders across the energy spectrum to drive an advanced, reliable, affordable, diversified, and “all-of-the-above” energy economy.
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“Promote a forward-thinking, “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that supports grid modernization and reliability and improves access to energy production methods.”
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“The chamber supports:
The growth of clean energy technologies and expansion of Nevada’s clean energy economy.
Recent legislative efforts to increase electric transmission projects and the continued efforts to become energy-independent by prioritizing renewable energy resources.
Development of utility scale solar, geothermal, wind, and storage technologies on private and public lands and exporting the energy outside of the state for the benefit of the ratepayer.
Encouraging members to support technological innovations and efforts to electrify the transportation sector across the state.
The development of EV charging stations and infrastructure for all technologies.
Solutions that assist with the mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Mining the abundant “critical minerals” needed to utilize new technologies, including lithium and other elements widely available in the state.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in business operations, particularly those that have a disparate impact on businesses, consumers or disadvantaged communities.
Continuation of its “Green Business Certificate” and “Green Dining District” training programs to prepare businesses for environmental challenges and consumer priorities.
Transparent energy policies that include well-designed market mechanisms and a fair regulatory environment.”
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“The chamber supports coming together to address climate change and clean energy transition with practical, affordable, flexible, predictable, and durable policies.”
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“Encourage the development and implementation of a statewide ‘all of the above’ energy strategy. This strategy should be balanced to utilize existing sources and encourage the development and use of advanced and carbon-free sources that maintain an economic balance and encourage economic development.”
2025
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