Leading GOP senator gives support to businesses lobbying for clean energy

WASHINGTON – One of the Senate’s leading Republicans rallied business leaders from across the country in town to pursue their main goal: lobby lawmakers to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation. In the process, advocates say a well constructed bill will create new jobs and bolster the economy.

During his 20-minute speech, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., spoke to more than 200 members of We Can Lead, a coalition of business leaders in favor of such legislation. Graham, one of three senators currently piecing together a bill, was insistent that the United States needs to lead the way in being energy independent and environmentally friendly.

“This is so logical, it’s scary,” he said to laughter. “Maybe that’s the biggest flaw – it sounds too good to be true.”

Graham said there is too much partisanship in Congress right now to pass controversial legislation like healthcare reform. But one thing Democrats and Republicans should agree about, he added, is making America energy efficient and independent.

“One issue we have common ground on is coming up with an energy policy and climate change policy to create new jobs,” he said.

Acknowledging that environmental concerns are not a top priority for all, fellow business leader Maria Kingery said the job-creating potential of an alternative energy economy is a key selling point that transcends partisan differences. She started a small business with her husband in 2001, providing energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services. Today, Southern Energy Management employs about 60 people in two North Carolina offices.

“We really have an opportunity to create a win-win-win situation, where we get to put our people back to work,” Kingery said. “You can’t outsource a job of somebody putting solar panels on a roof. You can’t outsource a job of someone going in and doing energy retrofits.”

Concluding his remarks, Graham waxed philosophical as the executives prepared for their second day of lobbying. The time for legislative action has come, he insisted.

“What Congress is going to come up here and do all these hard things? Who are these people? Because we constantly count on them,” he said. “I don’t know who they are. I’ve yet to find them. So I guess it falls on me and you. Let’s do it.”

See the full story published by Medill on the Hill!