This is exciting folks! We are on the edge of a staggering wave of growth potential. This is a time of great opportunity for our country, the opportunity to:

-Create Jobs: The clean energy industry produces 1 million new domestic jobs per $50 billion of investment according to the Center for American Progress

-Drive Investment: $10 billion in spending by the CEDA/Green Bank projects to drive $200 billion in investment in the clean energy industry

-Further National Security Objectives: A domestic clean energy industry would lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy, which often come from countries at cross purposes with our objectives

-Win the Next Great Global Challenge: China is investing $9 billion per month in clean energy according to Secretary Steven Chu, a figure that means the entire clean energy supply chain is in danger of becoming a source of foreign dependence for the US unless we act soon

This is an opportunity, not a burden!!!

Posted by Alex Kragie
 
Momentum 10/19/2009
 
The Coalition for the Green Bank has seen tremendous growth in the recent months. We have gone from a core group of businesses interested in finding a way to finance the transition from carbon to clean to a group of 90 distinct businesses and 114 individual members, with more joining by the week. We have been to the offices of over 85 Senators to spread the word of the Green Bank and the importance of financing the transition to the clean energy economy, especially in the face of the strong efforts by China and others to assume the mantle of global leadership in this new rapid-growth and high-potential sector. And, as reported by Peter Behr in the New York Times, "of all the pieces of climate legislation before Congress this year, the most popular may well be proposals to create a federal bank to channel loans, loan guarantees and other financing to clean energy projects."

The CEDA/Green Bank has been enthusiastically embraced by the House and the Senate, and the businesses that make up the coalition are thrilled at the enthusiastic reception that it has received as it has moved through the legislative process. The final step is getting an energy/climate change bill passed in the Senate. The coalition is proud to be supporting a piece of the legislative package that has such strong bi-partisan appeal and creates such enthusiasm among members of Congress. Every day we get closer to an overall bill that can pass the Senate and we look forward to a robust clean energy economy right here in the United States.

-Posted by Alex Kragie