Press Releases

Supporting Jobs and Communities Through the Clean Energy Economy

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship heard from a panel of experts and small business owners about the growing clean energy economy.

“As a physician, I understand the importance of clean air for Americans’ health. At the same time, we must be careful to balance our desire to reduce emissions with common sense, reasonable reforms that remove regulatory barriers and allow the free-market to drive solutions,” said Ranking Member John Joyce (R-PA).  “As we focus on transitioning our energy supply to more renewable sources, we cannot simply abandon traditional methods, but rather must encourage innovation to attract and harness private capital to help accelerate deployment of future clean technologies.  An ‘all the above approach’ is the only way to ensure that Americans have access to affordable, reliable energy.”

Experts Emphasize Economic Impact and Need for Stable Policies

“As a result of shale development, our nation is far more energy-secure and in many ways, our economic and environmental progress is due to it,” said Mr. David J. Spigelmyer, President, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), in Pittsburgh, PA.  “Supporting a thriving natural gas industry from production to pipeline deployment to its growth and power generation should be a core focus of any public policy discussion.”

“Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and natural gas represent the growth sectors of the U.S. energy economy according to [2019] data… These clean energy sectors now employ 3.4 million American workers and supply more than half our nation’s electricity,” said Dr. Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN), in Washington, DC.  “In 2017, CEBN surveyed our members on their business needs and priorities… policy topped the list of responses, particularly the need for more stable, predictable policies.”

“Nationwide, the biodiesel industry supports more than 65,000 jobs, $11 billion in economic impact… in many rural areas of the country, biodiesel plants are the driving force of that local economy, supporting employment for plant operators, truck drivers, and sources for farmers,” said Mr. Thomas R. Brooks, General Manager, Western Dubuque Biodiesel, in Farley, IA.  “The economic misfortune for biodiesel producers flows through local, rural economies.  It impacts feedstock purchases, farm equipment purchases, and savings and investments to the rural community.”

“Small businesses are not only creating the jobs that do this work but can reap the same cost and environmental health benefits if they make energy efficiency updates themselves.  There are currently over 2.3 million jobs in the energy efficiency sector, and roughly 70 percent of these are in small businesses,” said Mr. Michael G. Williams, Deputy Director, BlueGreen Alliance, in Washington, DC.  

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