Markey to Chamber: Follow Those Companies That Want Action, Not Talk

WASHINGTON (October 8, 2009) -- Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Waxman-Markey clean energy and climate bill, today noted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s statements supporting the goals of the Waxman-Markey bill. Rep. Markey called on the Chamber to follow forward-thinking companies like Apple, Nike, Exelon, PG&E and others who have left the Chamber because of the group’s continued failure to match action with their own words.

“It is good to have the Chamber of Commerce on board supporting the tenets of Waxman-Markey. Unfortunately, while the Chamber says they are for everything the Waxman-Markey bill addresses, they are just not for the bill itself,” said Rep. Markey, who Chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “The Chamber should listen to the companies who would rather leave the group than wait for it to back up their talk with action.”

The Chamber today defined a successful piece of legislation as one that “must include all major CO2 emitting economies, promote new technologies, emphasize efficiency, ensure affordable energy for families and businesses, and help create American jobs and return our economy to prosperity.”

The Waxman-Markey bill:

• Includes major CO2 emitting economies: Does not regulate China, India or other countries, as that is not under Congressional jurisdiction, but it does promote international technology cooperation, international deforestation prevention, international investments, and sets the stage for an international agreement to be made with all countries;
• Promotes new technologies: provides $200 billion to research and deploy clean energy technologies, and establishes a Green Bank that can provide funding for renewable energy, nuclear and other emerging technologies, and creates Clean Energy Hubs that will help link inventors with investors;
• Emphasize efficiency: sets a national efficiency standard and updates the efficiency of appliances, homes, buildings, and vehicles;
• Ensure affordable energy for families and businesses: according to the CBO, EIA, and EPA analyses, the Waxman-Markey bill would cost about a postage stamp a day, with electricity rates rising no more than 3 to 4 percent—and that’s before the savings from energy efficiency reduces energy bills for all consumers;
• Help create American jobs and return our economy to prosperity: several studies have pointed to the millions of jobs that could be created from clean energy legislation, and clean energy innovation and jobs are key to the long-term recovery of our nation’s economy.

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