Oct 05 - PRNewswire-USNewswire
Over 150 businesses from more than 30 states launch the next phase of
their efforts to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation. In
one of the most diverse business gatherings of its kind in support of
climate legislation, the group will come to the Nation's Capitol on
October 6th and 7th, to advocate for comprehensive climate and energy
policies to create over 1.7 million new jobs, cut carbon pollution,
restore America's competitiveness and provide for our economic and
national security.
"America is a nation of great imagination and ingenuity," said Wayne
Leonard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy, a Louisiana
based utility with 2.7 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas. "More than ever, we need to tap into these
uniquely American characteristics to mitigate the effects of climate
change, and it will take a range of energy solutions to do so. I am
pleased to be here in Washington with such a broad range of business
leaders representing so many segments of the U.S. economy to simply say,
it is time to change the incentives around the production of carbon."
"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."
"A key question is whether or not the U.S. is a worldwide leader in the
next great global industry, green technologies. We are not today," said
John Doerr, Partner at venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield &
Byers. "The energy and climate legislation is crucial if we are to lead
in Energy Technology the way we did in Internet Technologies."
"Comprehensive climate legislation will benefit our planet and economy
and, if done right, signal the rebirth of American manufacturing," said
Bill Keith, founder and CEO of Indiana-based SunRise Solar, Inc. "With
clean energy demand on the rise, domestic manufacturers need a level
playing field so we can ensure that American workers are building the
parts and systems of the clean energy 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," concluded Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and chief
operating officer of PSEG, one of the nation's 10 largest electric
companies based in New Jersey. "Establishing a price on carbon through a
cap and trade program will give businesses the certainty they need to
invest in the new energy economy."
Participants in the We Can Lead effort will meet with top Obama
Administration officials and dozens of Senators to make their case for
action this year. We Can Lead will hold a press conference on Wednesday,
October 7th in the U.S. Capitol, time TBD.
For more on We Can Lead, visit http://www.wecanlead.org/
We Can Lead is sponsored by the Clean Economy Network and Ceres'
Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP).
The Clean Economy Network, Inc. (CEN) is a national advocacy association
for the clean tech and green business community. CEN is a broad,
nonpartisan network of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors
from across the economy and across the political spectrum.
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 and Symantec.
We Can Lead
CONTACT: Michael Meehan, Blue Line Strategic
Communications,+1-202-280-6770, mm@BlueLineSC.com
Web Site: http://www.wecanlead.org/
