Arkansas Business Leaders Go To Washington D.C. Urge Senate Action on Climate and Energy Legislation this Year
Action needed from Congress to position U.S. and AR as global leader in clean energy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 3, 2010
Contact:
Eddy Moore
AR Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy
Phone: 501-772-5426
Little Rock, Ark. – Members of the Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy joined 200 businesses from across the country in Washington D.C. this week to urge Senators to pass comprehensive federal climate and energy policies this year. These leaders urged the Senators Lincoln and Pryor to promote jobs and US energy independence through legislation that requires standards for renewable energy and creates a private-sector market for low-carbon energy solutions.
“The United States has all the tools to be the global leader in the global clean energy marketplace,” said Bert Fleck, Dow Chemical Russellville plant manager. “Thousands of business leaders like Dow Chemical know that unless we move quickly to pass comprehensive climate and energy policies that include a cap on carbon emissions, we risk losing the progress we’ve made on clean energy technology.”
Arkansas business leaders from Dow Chemical, Powers Energy of America, REACH Solutions, Silicon Solar Solutions, Sun City Energy, Fibrowatt, and Trem|Wel Energy, LLC joined a diverse group of top businesses in Washington for a business Advocacy Day for Jobs, Climate and New Energy Leadership.
“Arkansas has the wind, solar, biomass and energy efficiency industries to benefit from a comprehensive bill,” said Eddy Moore, coordinator for the Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy. “Establishing limits on carbon emissions is the only market-based tool that will create the kind of demand needed to create new business opportunities and jobs for Arkansas.”
Globally, leadership in solar technology, which was invented in the US, has shifted to China, Germany, and Japan. While the US has the biggest potential wind energy market, windmill technology leadership has shifted to China and Europe.
“I’m here to talk to our Senators about the amazing possibilities that renewable energy could create for jobs and home-grown industries in Arkansas,” said Dr. Terry Tremwel, Chairman of the Board of Trem|Wel Energy LLC.
“Rather than let the renewable energy technologies that are developed in the U.S. slide overseas, as they did in the 80’s, we can cultivate wind power, biomass, solar energy, and sustainable efficiencies right here in Arkansas to benefit our children. These are the areas of effort undertaken in Arkansas by Trem|Wel Energy.”
A recent study conducted by a consortium of economists at three leading universities found that comprehensive climate and energy policies could generate up to 25,000 additional jobs in Arkansas, increase Arkansas real Gross Domestic Product by $1.2 billion and real household income by $1,230 per year (as measured in 2008 dollars) by 2020.
Such policies would also promote multiple new agricultural revenue streams, including: land leases for wind turbines, sale of energy crops, sale of energy to local utility company, sale of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), sale of Carbon Offset Credits, sale of organic fertilizer and sale of Animal Processed Fiber (APF). For example, under current estimates, the average Arkansas corn farm of 415 acres, could see increased gross revenue of about $22,500 due to new product and offset markets.
For example, Fibrowatt generates carbon neutral power using poultry litter, a byproduct from poultry production. In 2007, it opened the nation’s first poultry-litter fueled power plant in Minnesota and is in the process of developing a new facility in Northwest Arkansas.
“Putting a price on carbon will increase the cost competitiveness of Fibrowatt’s power plants, avoid emissions of more potent greenhouse gases into our air, and preserve and enable growth of Arkansas poultry farms by creating a market for poultry litter,” said Bruce McLeish, Vice President of Power Marketing.
Fibrowatt can employ up to 300 people constructing a plant, 40 people operating a plant and 70-120 people transporting chicken litter to a power plant.
Nordex, a German manufacturer of wind energy components for 24 years, re-entered the U.S. market by investing $100 million in a manufacturing plant in Jonesboro. It will eventually employ over 700 people.
Pew Charitable Trusts’ analysis shows that 448 businesses in Arkansas generated more than 4,500 jobs in clean energy by 2007. The same study showed that between 2006 and 2008, venture capitalists poured $22.8 million into clean technology businesses in the state.
The Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy is an informal network of businesses and business leaders, spanning a wide spectrum of industry and commerce. The network supports a transition to a low-carbon clean energy economy in Arkansas and nationally. Its goal is to empower the Arkansas business community to influence public policy that helps get us there.
For more information on the Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy visit: http://www.arkcleaneconomy.biz/
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