Major Business Leaders Pressure Senators to Enact Comprehensive Climate and Energy Legislation

The US Chamber of Commerce may be opposed to climate change and energy legislation, but that does not mean that it speaks for the entire US business community. In fact, some of the largest companies in the US are emphatically in favor of proposed legislation to address climate change and energy.

This week more than 200 businesses in targeted states around the country called on key Senators to pass clean energy and climate legislation upon return to Washington, D.C. In the letters to Senators the business leaders highlighted the economic and job creation benefits of national climate and energy legislation.

"Today, the United States is falling behind in the global race to lead the new clean energy economy," they said in the letter. "In order for American business to unleash a new industrial revolution in energy, we need cooperative and coordinated action in the public policy and business arenas. We are ready to compete in the global marketplace, and we urge you to act so that we can win the race for a new clean energy economy. We stand ready to work with you to build this vital and growing economic sector."

Under the banner of a "We Can Lead" campaign, these corporations argue that legislation to address climate change and energy is essential to the future prosperity of the nation. "Energy is the largest industry, by revenue, in the world. It represents the next breakout technology sector," said Rose Lige, chief financial officer for Gary's Wynter Power Services, LLC, a full-service energy management company located in Indiana. "Clean energy technology will do for energy what IT has done for information and communications -- grow jobs and spur innovation."

We Can Lead is sponsored by the Clean Economy Network and Ceres' Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP). Ceres is the largest coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations in North America. Ceres launched the BICEP coalition, whose members include Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks, Sun Microsystems, The Timberland Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry's, Eileen Fisher, Stonyfield Farm Inc., and Symantec.

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