That is the argument that Gary Locke, secretary of the Commerce Department, is making. Business Week met with Locke at the Copenhagen climate change summit, and noted that at the first week of the summit, Locke is in the lead role for the United States.
Locke said that he was "struck by the great enthusiasm by the business leaders...for aggressive actions against climate change." When it came to climate change legislation that's currently in Congress, he said, "a whole cross section of industry supports strong U.S. legislation."
Locke, who in addition to highlighting the benefits of a move towards more environmentally sound practices, has been highlighting the threats that climate change presents, also said "business can't survive if subjected to floods or droughts."
At the event, Locke asked a small South San Francisco company called EOS Climate, which destroys climate warming gases from old refrigerators, how many jobs have been created. The answer, of course was lots of jobs. But larger companies, such as General Electric and Johnson Controls also generate revenue and jobs from green technology. General Electric is looking to benefit from a push towards greener technology by selling wind turbines, energy efficient locomotives, and technology to make the electric grid more efficient.
But Locke is also concerned that without significant investment in green technology, the United States "will wake up and ask how Brazil or Singapore, or others became the Silicon Valley of green energy."
Locke said that other countries, such as Spain and Germany, that have become leaders in green energy have done so because of regulations requiring utilities to pay a premium for energy generated from renewable sources. China, he said, is pushing into wind and solar and has invested heavily in these technologies.
But the United States, he said, is hampered by a lack of a national policy on green energy. "I've heard from so many companies and investors that they are sitting on the sidelines until the rules are clear," Locke said. "The longer we wait the further other countries will move ahead."
Not surprisingly, Locke closed his interview with a push for Congress to pass climate change legislation. "That's why it's so important for Congress to pass energy legislation as quickly as possible," he said.
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Locke said that he was "struck by the great enthusiasm by the business leaders...for aggressive actions against climate change." When it came to climate change legislation that's currently in Congress, he said, "a whole cross section of industry supports strong U.S. legislation."
Locke, who in addition to highlighting the benefits of a move towards more environmentally sound practices, has been highlighting the threats that climate change presents, also said "business can't survive if subjected to floods or droughts."
At the event, Locke asked a small South San Francisco company called EOS Climate, which destroys climate warming gases from old refrigerators, how many jobs have been created. The answer, of course was lots of jobs. But larger companies, such as General Electric and Johnson Controls also generate revenue and jobs from green technology. General Electric is looking to benefit from a push towards greener technology by selling wind turbines, energy efficient locomotives, and technology to make the electric grid more efficient.
But Locke is also concerned that without significant investment in green technology, the United States "will wake up and ask how Brazil or Singapore, or others became the Silicon Valley of green energy."
Locke said that other countries, such as Spain and Germany, that have become leaders in green energy have done so because of regulations requiring utilities to pay a premium for energy generated from renewable sources. China, he said, is pushing into wind and solar and has invested heavily in these technologies.
But the United States, he said, is hampered by a lack of a national policy on green energy. "I've heard from so many companies and investors that they are sitting on the sidelines until the rules are clear," Locke said. "The longer we wait the further other countries will move ahead."
Not surprisingly, Locke closed his interview with a push for Congress to pass climate change legislation. "That's why it's so important for Congress to pass energy legislation as quickly as possible," he said.
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