AR Business Leaders Release Statement after Economic Development Commission Announces High-Paying, Energy Job Creation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 26, 2010
Contact:
Eddy Moore
Cell: 501-772-5426
(Little Rock, Ark) Arkansas is home to some of the most highly-skilled employees in the new clean energy economy. Today, the operations and headquarters of a transmission region spanning parts of 8 states is consolidated in Little Rock. This highlights the fact that Arkansans will supply the technical know-how to plan and manage the inter-state transmission of some of the nation’s most significant wind power resources.
We also applaud Pulaski Tech for taking the lead on training people for energy efficiency and wind manufacturing careers. The new facility they announce today will further educate our workforce and attract more clean energy jobs to the state.
Comprehensive energy and climate legislation would only strengthen these growing parts of the Arkansas economy.
Clean energy jobs and investment are growing in Arkansas while other sectors are not. Strong Federal climate and energy legislation will drive capital and jobs into our state and help Arkansas capture an even bigger slice of what is fast becoming a multibillion-dollar industry.
Pew Charitable Trusts’ analysis shows that 448 businesses in Arkansas generated more
than 4,500 jobs in clean energy by 2007.
Recent economic analysis found that strong federal climate and energy policy could create up to 25,000 jobs in Arkansas, increase household incomes by $1,230 and grow the state economy by $1.2 billion.
A recent study from the Consumer Federation of America shows that robust state and federal energy efficiency policies could dramatically reduce energy consumption, reduce the cost of climate legislation (current estimates at a postage stamp a day) and save Arkansans $403 on their energy bills every year.
The Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy Economy (ABLCEE) 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 about ABLCEE and the studies referenced in this statement visit: http://www.arkcleaneconomy.biz/category/newsroom/
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