CICE Joins Industry Leaders to Champion Streamlined Clean Energy Siting Policies
During the last week of July, the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) policy team, Rob Bradham and Evan Kalember, attended a siting policy conference. Alongside other industry professionals, they discussed the economic benefits of equitable, streamlined siting policies, strategies for implementing and developing policies, and how appropriate siting policy can help clean energy sources meet the fast growing demand for energy.
The conference consisted of presentations, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions to utilize attendees’ diverse expertise in advocacy, policy, economic development, coalition building, and communication. Despite the passage of the Congressional Reconciliation Bill severely hindering the IRA clean energy tax credits, the mood was positive, looking forward to the opportunities for advancing federal and state siting policies for clean energy sources.
Rob Bradham, Director of Policy for CICE, spoke on a partnership panel - discussing the opportunities that organizations have to engage with chambers of commerce across the country as leaders of business communities that know their members and as non-partisan organizations to host discussions.
Key takeaways for chambers of commerce:
Clean energy projects will continue to develop to meet growing demand. Streamlined and well-communicated siting processes will attract developers, resulting in tax revenue and workforce development for states and counties.
Chambers of commerce have an important role to play as neutral parties to connect project developers and the business community for discussions.
The best advocates are in their own communities. Chambers that engage in advocacy in their states have the most to contribute to encouraging their legislators to advance equitable siting policy.
Navigating local siting challenges and legislation can be incredibly complex. CICE stands committed to assisting chambers engage in the clean energy space with their communities.