Business Leaders Tell Washington: We'll Lead on Climate, Energy

Hundreds of executives from a wide variety of companies are gathering in Washington today to discuss a clean energy economy as part of the Business Advocacy Day for Jobs & Competitiveness. It's one of the most diverse gatherings of businesses to come together for a single purpose: support for climate legislation. The event was organized by a group called We Can Lead.

The group, which includes companies like HP, eBay, Timberland, Starbucks, Symantec, Nike, and Duke Energy  believes that “sound energy policies are our best hope towards reclaiming America's competitive mantle as leaders in this next wave of economic growth while working on climate stability and energy security.” They’ll encourage Congress to take action with strong climate legislation like the Clean Energy Jobs Act introduced last week by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Several of these companies have also written a public letter calling for legislation to reduce carbon emissions. The letter read, in part: “We need you to swiftly enact comprehensive legislation to cut carbon pollution and create an economy-wide cap and trade program. We support this legislation because certainty and rules of the road enable us to plan, build, innovate and expand our businesses. Putting a price on carbon will drive investment into cost-saving, energy-saving technologies, and will create the next wave of jobs in the new energy economy.”

“This is a powerful message that U.S. businesses are united on the urgency for tackling climate change,” said Timberland CEO Jeff Swartz. “Congress must help position us to be stronger and more competitive by accelerating the growth of a low-carbon global economy.”

“If we give climate change the priority it deserves and tackle the problem seriously, we will improve our nation’s energy security, create new jobs, grow a new sector of the economy, and safeguard the planet for future generations,” said Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and COO of New Jersey-based PSEG, one of the nation’s largest electric companies.

This morning, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, together with Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner will meet with the executives.

We Can Lead is a collaboration between the Clean Economy Network, Ceres, and other business groups including: Arkansas Business Leaders for Clean Energy Economy, Apollo Alliance, Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy Business Network and US Climate Action Network.