Small Business Owners Urge Congress to Support Strong Clean Air Standards

Washington, DC̢??‰۝Nearly 500 small business owners from seven states signed a letter urging members of Congress to allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue to set carbon pollution standards for power plants through provisions of the Clean Air Act.

To read the letter, visit www.smallbusinessforcleanenergy.com.

The letter, signed by entrepreneurs from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia, stated that small business owners support the EPA̢??‰?s standards limiting carbon emissions from power plants and believe clean energy standards are good for their businesses and the economy. The letter also asked lawmakers to help create opportunities and financial incentives for small businesses to implement cost-saving energy efficiency measures.

̢???Small business owners understand the nexus between protecting public health and growing the economy. We believe sensible clean air standards will spark innovation and drive long-term growth while curbing climate change. We urge you to support small businesses and find real clean energy solutions that will create long-term economic growth and ignite a new era of American innovation,̢???? the letter stated.

Small Business Majority̢??‰?s scientific opinion polling found small businesses support strong carbon pollution standards limiting emissions of industrial carbon pollution from power plants. In fact, polling found more than half of all small businesses support the EPA regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants, and 76 percent of small business owners are in favor of requiring new power plants to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, a vast 82 percent support EPA rules to reduce mercury and other toxic emissions from new and existing power plants.

̢???Small business owners believe these standards are important because they will help drive innovation and investment in energy efficiency and are a key component to progressing toward a clean energy economy and to creating jobs,̢???? said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. ̢???Strong clean energy standards that limit carbon pollution from new and existing power plants can help businesses save money through new technologies and efficiencies.̢????

Entrepreneurs believe stronger clean energy standards will help spur innovation and create jobs. Small business owners also support the EPA̢??‰?s clean air and renewable energy standards because they believe it will help curb the effects of climate change and extreme weather that have devastating impacts on small businesses and the economy.

Some lawmakers are attempting to repeal the EPA̢??‰?s proposed carbon limits for new power plants, establish restrictive rules for how the EPA should set future standards and prevent the EPA from establishing standards for existing power plants unless Congress passes a law establishing an effective date for implementation.