Since the launch of “The U.S. Chamber Doesn’t Speak for Me” campaign a few months ago, thousands of business leaders across the country have signed the declaration, and many of them own or represent companies in the clean energy industry, with more joining the movement every day.
The American Solar Energy Society is a group that we’re especially pleased to be working with. ASES has been around for more than 60 years, and they’re the nation’s leading association of solar professionals and grassroots advocates. When asked how the solar industry at-large stands to benefit from strong climate and clean energy legislation, Jason Sherman of Sherman Communications and Marketing (on behalf of ASES) had this to say:
“A concern about and investment in solar and other forms of renewable energy go hand-in-hand with pushing for stronger climate legislation and clean-energy standards. The converse is also true. Pro-climate laws and standards have always benefited the solar industry. When we look to energy sources other than dirty fossil fuels and nuclear, solar tops the list. It’s abundantly available, increasingly affordable and CLEAN.”
Once a year during their National Solar Conference, ASES brings thousands of solar advocates, consumers and industry leaders together for the longest-running educational solar event in the United States. As the nation struggles with concerns about nuclear energy, fossil fuel dependency and a sluggish economy, thousands of renewable energy professionals and interested consumers will gather at the 40th annual ASES National Solar Conference (SOLAR 2011) May 17–21 in Raleigh, North Carolina. If you are a solar professional or an advocate hoping to learn more about the industry (“Public Day” is May 21), ASES has offered our U.S. Chamber campaign supporters an admissions discount—just be sure to enter “250off” when you register.
As the industry comes together next week to empower the businesses that are leading our clean-energy economy, many solar companies are also taking a strong stand against the dirty money lobbying and partisan politicking by the U.S. Chamber, and we’re proud to have those progressive industry leaders on our side. Click the link below to read two statements from solar company professionals based in California that have declared “The U.S. Chamber Doesn’t Speak for Me.”
“At Sungevity, we believe that solar panels could be on the roof of every home and business in this country, saving Americans thousands of dollars every year on energy bills, creating a booming green economy with plenty of good jobs, keeping carbon out of the atmosphere, and ensuring that the United States remains a competitor in the global clean energy market. Unfortunately, with a government that still gives billions in subsidies to fossil fuel companies every year, our industry hasn’t been able flourish as well as it could be. Nonetheless, solar is the fastest growing sector in the US economy and Sungevity is one of the fastest growing companies in that space, because we’re saving thousands of homeowners money on their electricity bill with every system we install.
Congress should be taking a progressive stance by investing in renewable energy projects and infrastructure; instead, they pander to groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a lobby with extremely deep pockets that doesn’t have a clue what American business owners actually want. What we want is for Congress to create a strong climate policy and to invest in renewable energy, because these are the only courses of action that will allow us to thrive and stay competitive. Our elected leaders should be listening to the economic backbone of this country—it’s small business owners. Shine on!”
-Danny Kennedy, Founder, Sungevity
“Solaria is an American solar panel manufacturer headquartered in Fremont, CA. One of the critical building blocks necessary for companies like ours to continue to scale up and create new manufacturing jobs in the US is for the Congress to adopt a long-term climate policy that creates a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This would provide the certainty necessary for the solar industry to plan and scale up accordingly. The absence of a national climate policy has created uncertainty that has undermined further growth and investment in the US solar industry. Unfortunately, the US Chamber of Commerce has chosen to oppose every effort to establish a meaningful climate policy. For this reason, the US Chamber of Commerce does not speak for our business.
Solaria is, however, a proud member of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce which has joined with many other local chambers of commerce across the country to be a voice in support of the growth of the solar industry in the US and policies to combat climate change. We hope the US Chamber will change course and join the many local chambers of commerce in supporting policies to restore America’s leadership in clean energy.”
-David Hochschild, VP External Relations, Solaria
