NEW ENERGY IS BIPARTISAN

Under the Election-Season Radar, Signs of Bipartisan Support for Clean Energy

Clint Wilder, October 1, 2012 (Clean Edge)

“On the eve of the first 2012 presidential debate…[there are] signs that a more bipartisan push for clean-tech growth might be possible…[DBL Investors’] Red, White & Green: The True Colors of America’s Clean Tech Jobs…details the surprising leadership in clean-tech jobs in several politically conservative southern and western states…Of the 10 states with the fastest growth in clean-tech jobs from 2003 to 2010, only two (Hawaii and New York) are solid Democratic blue states. All the others are either solid red (Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming) or swing (Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina)…

“The report also highlights the efforts of five current or former Republican governors to attract and grow clean-tech jobs in their states, most notably Mississippi’s Haley Barbour and Kansas’s Sam Brownback…[Unlike] the inexcusable stance of the national Republican party (and presidential candidate Mitt Romney) in opposing the extension of the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power, which expires at year’s end…Brownback, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin are among the GOP governors who have spoken out in favor of extending the PTC…[T]hanks to the insane political fight over the PTC…jobs are already disappearing as wind companies announce layoffs…”

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“…Deborah Fikes of Midland, Texas, executive advisor to the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) [recently talked about cleantech]…With roots dating back to 1846, it’s a network of evangelical churches in 129 countries…[and] more than 600 million people…[T]he WEA believes it's a moral imperative to reduce carbon emissions with clean energy and efficiency, and Fikes said the group plans to take its message to all four of the national candidates’ debates in the next month, with banners asking Obama, Romney, Biden, and Ryan what they plan to do on the climate issue…

“…Renewable Energy Trust CEO John Bohn…[who was] the former head of Moody’s Investor Services, the Asian Development Bank, and the Export-Import Bank of the U.S…[recently said he is] a card-carrying Republican…and the biggest myth is that Republicans don’t support clean energy…Poll after poll says that Bohn is correct…As the political season enters full swing and the campaign rhetoric cranks up…keep that in mind…”