WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress continues working to construct legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, legislators on the House Small Business Committee today discussed how entrepreneurs and family farmers can play a role in addressing climate change, as well as the effect emission reductions could have on the small business economy.
“The science is clear: from rising sea levels to changing weather patterns, climate change is occurring,” said Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “Entrepreneurs everywhere are stepping up to address this problem by investing in a green economy.”
During the hearing, witnesses and lawmakers argued that there is a clear need for Congress to pass legislation, in order for a climate change policy to be crafted correctly.
Velázquez said that if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moves forward alone to regulate carbon under the Clean Air Act, it would likely create difficulties as the agency would be using statutes crafted nearly forty years ago for different purposes.
“The Clean Air Act is a landmark environmental law that has served us well for nearly four decades, but it simply was not written with the complexities of climate change in mind,” Velázquez said.
“The reforms needed are sweeping, and Congress must craft a policy that takes small business needs into account.”
With their innovation and ingenuity, small businesses are leading developers of cutting-edge “green” technologies. Lawmakers noted today that entrepreneurs make up 90 percent of the renewable-energy sector that is harnessing wind and solar power, as well as producing biofuels.
The renewable-energy and efficiency sectors are leading a new wave of growth, and are expected to account for 1 out of every 4 jobs by 2030.Small businesses are also instrumental in efforts promoting energy efficiency in both existing and new buildings.
“Green entrepreneurship holds enormous potential for the lagging U.S. economy,” Velázquez said.
“Capping carbon emissions will not only protect our environment, but create an enormous market for the renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies being developed by our nation’s entrepreneurs.”
Click here to view video of the hearing:http://tiny.pl/zph5
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