Coalition of 26 Missouri Business Leaders Calls On Bond, McCaskill to Support Strong Climate Legislation

Preparing for the release of the Senate's clean energy legislation (made public today), a group of 26 Missouri business leaders wrote Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill earlier this week to support the comprehensive climate and energy bill. As outlined in an accompanying release from Missouri Votes Conservation, the letter calls on Bond and McCaskill to support policies that include:

• Encouragement for entrepreneurs to invest in cleaner, energy-efficient technologies and industries.
• New markets for the dozens of small Missouri businesses who provide the needed materials and services for the energy efficiency market.
• Protection against the dramatic energy price spikes experienced over the last several years.

Businesses that signed the letter include: Advanced Energy Corporation (Sedalia), Alternative Energy Company (Springfield), Fiberlite Technologies (Joplin), Global Green Building (Ozark), Home Performance Experts (Columbia), Show Me Energy Cooperative (Centerview) and Taylor Engineering Company (Nevada).

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Here's the full letter:

The Energy Savings Store
146 West Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
September 28, 2009

The Honorable Christopher Bond
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Bond:

We recognize that economic development and energy policy are inextricably linked. That is why we urge Congress to pass a comprehensive climate and energy package that will spur technological innovation, create new jobs, maintain economic competitiveness, and keep energy prices affordable – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that a market-based, economy-wide cap-and-trade system like the one currently being considered by Congress is critical to helping the United States achieve its environmental goals while continuing to grow its economy.

A comprehensive energy policy like the one passed by the House will create a clear signal that encourages entrepreneurs to invest in cleaner, energy-efficient technologies and industries. It will also work to keep our energy bills low by incentivizing energy efficiency. By helping our businesses to weatherize, replace high-energy appliance, and adopt other energy-saving practices, the legislation will not only help save us money as consumers, it will also create new markets for the dozens of small Missouri businesses who provide the needed materials and services. The proposed energy legislation will also provide protection against the dramatic energy price spikes we have experienced over the last several years, allowing us to plan a budget knowing power rates will remain stable.

Given the current economic climate in Missouri, we cannot afford to delay action on legislation that promises to expand markets for local businesses and stabilize energy costs. And given the current crisis facing the Earth’s climate, we cannot afford to delay legislation addressing greenhouse gas emissions. Failure to pass an emissions reduction plan now will only result in the need to create an even steeper reduction schedule in the near future, causing spikes in energy costs and disruption of our communities that could not be offset to a manageable level. By passing the legislation now, we will be able to avoid the debilitating costs of procrastination.

It is clear that bold action on climate and energy policy is a pressing need for our community. We have the opportunity to turn in a new direction and achieve a new economic and energy future. Thank you to Congressmen Carnahan, Clay, Cleaver, and Skelton for your leadership on this vitally important issue. We urge our senators to follow their example and to take the lead on a strong, comprehensive energy package that addresses the needs of our businesses and community.

Sincerely,

Aaron's Ltd, Alternative Energy and Chimney Services
High Ridge, MO
Gary Hart
President

Advanced Energy Corporation
Sedalia, MO
Burt Reine
Vice President

Alternative Energy Company
Springfield, MO
Zeke Fairbank
President

Butterfly Energy Works
Webster Groves, MO
Gary Steps
President

BZ Products Inc.
St. Louis, MO
Frank Lewon
Owner

Current Energy
Clayton, MO
Rick Hunter
CEO

Decent Energy
Kansas City, MO
Barry Decker
President

Ecoworks Unlimited
St. Louis, MO
Karla Wilson
President

Edge Environmental Energy Systems
Ozark, MO
George Van Hoesen
Managing Partner

Fiberlite Technologies, Inc.
Joplin, MO
Shan Maitra
President

Hathmore Technologies & Accurate Rater Network
Independence, MO
Craig Wolfe
Director of Communications and Business Development

Home Performance Experts
Columbia, MO
Dan Riepe
Owner

[Redacted]
Lee’s Summit, MO
President/CEO

Mid-America Renewable Energy Solutions
Lone Jack, MO
David Villines
President

Missouri Valley Renewable Energy
Hermann, MO
Henry Renta
President

Pave Guard Technologies, Inc.
Lee’s Summit, MO
Corey McDonald
President and CEO

Rescom Energy Consultants
St. Charles, MO
Jeff Robson
Co-Founder

Show Me Energy Cooperative
Centerview, MO
Steve Flick
President

Solar 1 – St. Louis Solar
St. Louis, MO
Bill Loesch
Owner

Taylor Engineering Company
Nevada, MO
Tom Taylor
President

Tech Power Systems
Kansas City, MO
James Harmon
Vice President of Operations

[Redacted]
St. Joseph, MO
President

The Energy Savings Store
Webster Groves, MO
Bob Solger
Proprietor

The Evergreen Institute
Gerald, MO
Dan Chiras
Founder and Director

Thermal Vision Home Energy Audits
St. Peters, MO
Tom Ochsner
President

White Caps, Green Collars
St. Louis, MO
Jill Miller
Owner

CC: Senator Claire McCaskill
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay
Congressman Todd Akin
Congressman Russ Carnahan
Congressman Ike Skelton
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II
Congressman Sam Graves
Congressman Roy Blunt
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson
Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer

A few of the signers were happy to support the letter to Congress, but asked not to be listed on the press release or online -- their names have been redacted as indicated.