Companies in New York Poised For Growth Under Cap On Carbon

(Troy, NY – September 3, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund today unveiled a groundbreaking interactive map of 200 companies in New York that are poised to expand their business and create new jobs under a cap on carbon pollution.

The New York map is the latest addition to www.LessCarbonMoreJobs.org, which identifies and profiles more than 2,300 companies in 21 states that are poised to grow when Congress passes a cap on the pollution that causes global warming. Marcia Aronoff, Vice President of Environmental Defense Fund, unveiled the map today at a news conference hosted by Rep. Scott Murphy (D-NY-20) and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-21) at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

“LessCarbonMoreJobs.org is a map showing New York businesses that are already working on renewable energy and energy efficiency products,” said Aronoff. “Many of these businesses are thriving, even in today’s difficult economy. In fact, some are now hiring. A clean energy bill that puts a cap on carbon pollution will help launch more businesses like these, and will help create even more jobs here in New York. It will also help make America more energy independent by reducing our reliance on imported oil and developing the renewable energy resources we have here at home.”

A carbon cap rewards companies that invent efficient and low-carbon ways of creating and using energy, thus reducing America’s dependence on imported oil, creating much-needed jobs and protecting the climate. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the cap under consideration by Congress can be achieved for about a dime-a-day per person.

www.LessCarbonMoreJobs.org maps businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia – as well as New York, as of today — that are poised to create jobs when Congress enacts a cap on carbon. The companies are involved in a wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, including manufacturing wind turbine components, shipping solar panel equipment and installing energy efficient building materials. The interactive web site also has case studies and worker profiles. Visitors can search companies by state, Congressional district and media market.

“These maps show a manufacturing boom that’s ready to happen,” said Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies for EDF, who spearheaded the research behind the website. “A carbon cap will create huge demand for the nuts and bolts of clean energy, and these are the U.S. manufacturers that will make them.”

The House of Representatives passed a clean energy bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, earlier this year. The Senate is expected to begin debate on its clean energy bill in September.
###

About Environmental Defense Fund
A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org