BICEP Companies Send Letter to Senate in Support of EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dear Senate Majority Leader Reid and Members of the Senate:

We are writing as major US businesses to urge you to oppose all riders to the FY11 Interior Appropriations bill that would block or delay enforcement of the Clean Air Act and /or specifically curtail EPA’s ability to take action on the regulation of carbon.

For nearly two years, our coalition, Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy [BICEP] has worked with members of Congress toward passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation because we believe it is critical to the health of our businesses and essential for job creation and innovation in the United States.

It is important to underscore that we have always believed strongly that Congress should lead on setting climate and energy policy for the United States. However, in lieu of Congress’s ability to pass a comprehensive bill we feel that EPA’s legitimate authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions should not be constrained at this time.

We urge you to remain focused on the vital task of a passing comprehensive climate and energy bill that will create jobs, reduce harmful emissions encourage clean energy development and enhance national security.

Sincerely,
Mindy S. Lubber on behalf of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy [BICEP]
President, Ceres

BICEP members include Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks, Timberland, Aspen Skiing Company, Best Buy, Ben & Jerry's, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Jones Lang LaSalle, Eileen Fisher, Gap Inc., The North Face, Outdoor Industry Association, Seventh Generation, Stonyfield Farm, Symantec and Target Corporation.