ASBC - Campaign

Urge Congress to Uphold EPA Oversight of Greenhouse Gases:
Business Leader Sign-On Letter

Recent initiatives by the 112th Congress to undermine EPA's authority to regulate GHG emissions and other pollutants are not in the business community's or nation's best interest. Federal action is needed to address the climate challenge, thus reducing risk and uncertainty for business. A patchwork of state legislation and judicial rulings is not the answer. ASBC believes that protecting the environment has always been and should remain a bipartisan effort. The nation needs to invest in clean energy technologies that will create jobs, lead to economies of scale, and lead to cleaner air.

Our May 13, 2011 open letter to Congress outlines our call for strong federal action.

With the failure of the Senate to act on a comprehensive climate and energy bill prior to the November elections, the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in regulating greenhouse gas emissions has become ever more important. However, not everyone agrees that the EPA has the authority to do so. The US Chamber of Commerce, for example, is challenging the EPA in federal court. This is despite a Supreme Court decision in 2007 (Massachusetts et al vs. Environmental Protection Agency et al.), which affirmed that the EPA has the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon as a pollutant.

In response, nine of ASBC’s partner organizations have sent a letter to all 535 members of Congress expressing its support for EPA’s power to regulate carbon emissions. As this authorization is due to go into effect in January 2011, it is crucial that the Congress oppose any measures that would undermine or postpone the ability of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. We now call on you to personally sign this letter and join with business leaders throughout the country who support smart and sustainable growth.

For more information about ASBC's work on climate change and energy policy, see:

Dear Members of Congress,

As owners, employees, and investors in sustainable businesses, we urge you to uphold the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate carbon emissions as authorized by the Clean Air Act. As determined by the EPA and further upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Clean Air Act’s provisions should be applied to greenhouse gas emissions.

As businesspeople we believe clean energy is an effective strategy to revitalize our economy and make our companies more competitive in a global marketplace. Over the past forty years, the Clean Air Act has proven to spur innovation, foster technological development and add, not subtract, economic value.

As businesspeople, we seek to operate our companies in socially and environmentally responsible ways. This includes reducing carbon emissions. While voluntary action by business is important to addressing climate change, federal policy is essential to addressing greenhouse gas emissions on the broad scale required.

Contrary to claims from opponents of clean energy and environmental safeguards, reducing pollution is good for businesses. The Clean Air Act has proven to be a prudent investment for the nation’s long-term economic growth and the health of our communities.

The Clean Air Act provides lawmakers with an example of how responsible environmental measures can both foster new industries and send a clear market signal to investors and entrepreneurs that innovation and investment in the clean energy sector is good business.

We therefore strongly urge you to vote against any bills or amendments that weaken or delay the ability of the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon emissions. Thank you for your attention to this time-sensitive and crucial issue.

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