There’s nothing more grassroots than a local chamber of commerce. No organization has a better understanding of its community and what it means to run a business and establish a life in its hometown. No other group is tasked with helping so many businesses – from mom and pop entrepreneurs to leading corporate voices – sift through the issues critical to business success.
In recognition of the central place local chambers hold in their communities, a group of chamber executives came together several years ago to create Chambers for Clean Energy and Innovation, a group that has grown into a national network of local chambers of commerce dedicated to helping chambers and their member companies successfully navigate and prosper in the clean energy space. These executives realized that the constantly evolving energy landscape would present many opportunities – and quite a few challenges — for their communities and member businesses.
Since then, Chambers for Innovation has grown to represent almost 400 chambers from around the country. As of last week, we have members in all 50 states and communicate with a network of more than 2,000 chamber leaders nationwide. We’ve helped local chambers grapple with changes in energy markets and state and federal energy regulations. And we’ve listened to the concerns of our member chambers as they faced changes to their long-standing business models.
With all that in mind, we recently announced a partnership with EnergySage to help local chambers of commerce and their member businesses take advantage of cost savings from installing solar. EnergySage, based in Massachusetts, was founded in 2009 to make it easier for homeowners and businesses to install solar.
Under the partnership, businesses that are members of a local chamber can use an innovative and user-friendly online solar marketplace at no cost. Users receive quick and easy options for putting solar on their commercial or residential buildings.
The Metro South Chamber of Commerce in Massachusetts is the first local chamber to take advantage of the new partnership. “Lowering costs, saving time, and creating local jobs is a winning combination that strengthens business and increases profits,” said Christopher Cooney, president and CEO of the Metro South Chamber.
Cooney plans to install solar panels on his chamber’s historic building, which once housed the labs where Thomas Edison first perfected one of his greatest lighting innovations.“The EnergySage process makes it easy for our chamber members to receive multiple quotes, learn about tax credits, and gauge potential long-term gains,” Cooney said.
Through the partnership, chamber members will have access to robust solar options, an instant estimate of the costs, savings, and financial options and the ability to include local companies in the price comparisons. Chamber businesses that create a free account on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace will receive quotes from multiple pre-screened and high-quality solar installers, easing the process of shopping for the right solar system.
EnergySage will make a donation – ranging from $250 for residential systems to up to $5,000 for large commercial systems – to the local chamber of commerce whose members go solar through the EnergySage Marketplace.
In announcing the partnership, John Gingrich, Head of Corporate Development for EnergySage, said that his company recognizes that solar can be complex for business owners. “This partnership offers a great opportunity to help these decision makers choose solar with ease,” he said.
From the perspective of Chambers for Innovation, the partnership offers a win-win for local chambers: the chamber now has an opportunity to offer a valuable no-cost service for their member companies and it can receive additional critically-needed revenue for helping their member companies choose solar.
Best of all, our partnership with EnergySage includes provisions that allow a chamber to request bids from local, regional and national providers. Not only does this provision allow chambers to offer a valuable service to their local businesses and communities, it helps build local and regional expertise that will provide ongoing benefits for years and years to come. And that, ultimately, is what local chambers are all about.
Diane Doucette is the Executive Director of Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.
