Today the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and 1Sky announced that 33 Maryland small business leaders have released a letter asking Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski to support a comprehensive clean energy jobs bill in the U.S. Senate this fall.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 26, 2009
Local Business Leaders Release Letter to Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski Asking for Support for Clean Energy Jobs Bill
Economic Benefits of Clean Energy Cited Among Reasons to Support Legislation This Fall
TAKOMA PARK, August 26, 2009: Today the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and 1Sky announced that 33 Maryland small business leaders have released a letter asking Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski to support a comprehensive clean energy jobs bill in the U.S. Senate this fall.
The Maryland letter is part of a larger release of over 1,000 small business leaders throughout the country who are speaking up this week to let Congress know that American small business owners believe that a comprehensive clean energy jobs bill will keep America competitive in the global economy as well as reduce global warming pollution.
“We understand that the health of the economy of our State and Nation are wholly dependent on the health of the environment. The business community stands to gain far more by aggressively acting to address climate change than it would lose due to the economic consequences of the impending environmental crisis,” said Michael Hindle of Brennan+Company Architects. “Efforts to transition to a low carbon economy represent an investment in the technologies, industries, and job creation that will allow us to lead the world once again in innovation and preserve our prosperity.”
A 2009 study by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in partnership with the Center for American Progress estimated that at least 1.7 million jobs could be created with an investment of $150 billion in domestic clean energy.
“Business leaders throughout America know that it makes good fiscal sense to confront the looming economic disaster of the effects of climate change and, at the same time, take advantage of the huge economic opportunities offered in the field of renewable energy jobs,” said 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell.
The full letter can be read following this release, along with the full list of business leaders in Maryland who signed the letter.
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Dear Senator:
We write to you as business owners and concerned citizens throughout the state of Maryland who know that it is time for the U.S. Senate to take comprehensive action to produce clean energy jobs legislation. We cannot afford to continue to be driven by special interests preventing progress on clean energy jobs legislation in Congress, and reflexively saying “no” to anything that smacks of progress towards a competitive clean energy future for American business.
We are large, small and medium sized companies, spanning the spectrum from industry to retail and commerce. We represent the business core of Main Street in America. We understand the need to put our economy on track, creating millions of new jobs with the most efficient, responsible, and sustainable approach. We understand the need to stay competitive in the global economy. We understand the need to create an economy today that will keep America a world leader for many tomorrows to come.
And we understand that to do so, American must transform our energy infrastructure and move to a low-carbon, clean energy economy. Therefore, we stand together with business leaders across the state and across America calling on our senators to do what is best for our country and for thousands of business owners.
We say yes to a new direction for our country, and we urge you to support legislation that:
• Expands Clean Energy Jobs for America: maximize the number of allowances used to create clean energy jobs and train workers to fill them. Establish strong and effective renewable electricity and energy efficiency resource standards that allow us to pivot away from dirty fuels and add more clean energy jobs to the U.S. economy.
• Takes serious steps towards cutting global warming air pollution as soon as possible: cut carbon emissions at least 20 percent by 2020. A slow start over the next decade will mean a much heavier price tag later on, not to mention less chance of a binding global treaty and more severe economic and climate impacts in every state in our country.
• Transitions us away from the dirty fuels of the past and towards the clean energy of the future: end the construction of new dirty coal plants and ensure that the oldest, dirtiest coal plants must reduce their global warming pollution.
Being on the front lines of this economic crisis, we ask that you join with the majority of Americans who know that the time for action is now on effective, comprehensive climate and energy legislation. We cannot afford to wait – the costs of inaction on climate change will severely impact our economy and our future. Investments in energy efficiency, and renewable industries like solar power and wind energy will create clean energy jobs, restore our economy, and secure America’s role as a global leader in the clean energy industry.
Please support American business by supporting clean energy jobs legislation.
Sincerely,
Fluharty Electric Inc
Green Energy Design
Blue House Life
Furbish Company
Kristi Neidhardt Real Estate Team
NaturalCheck, LLC
RainSavers of Md
After Midnight
Baltimore Eats
Daily Grind
Earth Alley, LLC
Gabrielli Design
GreeNEWit
Elysian Energy, LLC
Urban Solar Solutions
Green Power Living, LLC
Baltimore Biomass
Brennan+Company Architects
Brookville Market
Conservation Engineering
Galaxie Cleaners
Monarch Effect Foundation
Parkway Deli
Keller Williams Flagship of MD
