WASHINGTON (July 23, 2019) – House energy committee leaders today—led by chairman Frank Pallone of the Energy and Commerce Committee, chairman Paul Tonko of the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee, and chairman Bobby Rush of the Energy Subcommittee—vowed to enact a “bold” plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
The new initiative would unleash America’s clean energy potential onto the economy, which currently employs nearly 3.3 million workers in every state – nearly three times more fossil fuel industries. Clean energy sectors are already outpacing overall employment growth, with forecasts projecting over six percent growth in 2019.
The following is a statement from Grant Carlisle, Director of Advocacy for the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs):
“This is an important time for the future of America’s burgeoning clean energy economy. Policymakers can either recognize clean energy’s vast economic potential and what it can bring to local communities of all sizes or risk ceding those jobs and investments to our foreign competitors.
“Embracing a 100 percent clean energy vision not only ensures America remains the global leader in energy in the 21st Century but helps defend our businesses and workers from the growing economic threat of climate change.”
According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, countries face economic damages of $54 trillion if the world gets 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer between now and 2040.
In the United States alone, climate change could cost our economy $500 billion per year by the end of the century, according to the latest National Climate Assessment, which is required by Congress and includes input from 13 Trump administration agencies.
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For more information and interviews with E2 staff or our members leading clean energy businesses across the country, please contact Michael Timberlake at (202) 289-2407 or [email protected].
Additional Resources:
- E2 Report: Clean Jobs America 2019
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Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.