2Sustain

Last week, more than 80 CEOs from leading U.S. businesses sent a letter to President Obama and members of Congress calling on them to move quickly to enact comprehensive climate and energy legislation that will create jobs, increase the nation’s energy independence, and enhance U.S. competitiveness.

Now, the same group, We Can Lead, is applauding the commitment to clean energy jobs and comprehensive climate and energy legislation that President Obama expressed in the State of the Union address last night.

“President Obama stressed the importance of creating new American jobs through proposals including the passage of comprehensive energy and climate legislation that will help American businesses invest in the transition to a new energy economy, create millions of new American jobs over the next decade, and enhance U.S. competitiveness,” We Can Lead says in a press release. “We applaud the President’s commitment and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to promote American job creation and enhance the ability of American companies to compete in the global race to lead the new energy economy.”

We Can Lead is a network of over 150 companies and top business leaders from 30 states.  In its letter to President Obama and Congress, the group states that the U.S. is “falling behind” in the global clean energy race. I agree. Legislative policies can support the transition to a low-carbon economy and help America become a clean energy leader –and the time is now.

For some issues, a slow, methodical approach to legislation is entirely appropriate. However, given the critical nature of the current situation — rampant global industrialization, resource depletion, mounting business risk, etc. – it’s clear that we need committed and rapid action.

“American businesses recognize this challenge and have already begun to respond and innovate. However, today’s uncertainty surrounding energy and climate regulation is hindering the large-scale actions that American businesses are poised to make,” says the letter We Can Lead sent to President Obama and Congress last week. “We need strong policies and clear market signals that support the transition to a low-carbon economy and reward companies that innovate. It is time for the Administration and Congress to embrace this policy as the promising economic opportunity that will empower American workers to compete and American entrepreneurship to lead the way.”

The full text of the letter and the list of signatories is available at the group’s website wecanlead.org.