U.S. Chamber: Misguided Climate Change Policies Will Negatively Impact Colorado's Economy

DENVER, CO—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a group of national and state partners today held a discussion to draw attention to the economic implications future climate change policies could have on Colorado families, workers and businesses.

"Only by considering all the true costs and benefits of climate policy options—meaning not just the environmental impact but the economic impact—and debating it rationally, can we build a clean energy future. The alternative approach — throwing our economy in the water to see if it floats — serves neither the citizens of Colorado nor our planet," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs. "Addressing greenhouse gas emissions means addressing economic policy."

According to an economic study by the American Council of Capital Formation of the failed "Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act," an economy-wide cap-and-trade bill and the Senate's main climate change vehicle in 2008, Colorado would have lost up to 76,135 jobs and $11.6 billion dollars in gross state product (GSP) by 2030 if the bill had been signed into law. Today's dialogue featured business leaders, government representatives, and policy and economic experts, and dealt with issues ranging from the costs of legislation like Lieberman-Warner to industry's voluntary efforts to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

The Chamber co-hosted today's dialogue with the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry. This is the ninth climate change dialogue the Chamber and its partners held in 2008. Earlier this year, events were held in New Hampshire, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Alaska, Tennessee, Nevada and Virginia.

"Colorado businesses and residents deserve to have their voices heard," continued Kovacs. "We are taking the debate over the costs of climate change policy out of Washington to where it truly belongs: with American consumers who will have to pay the tab."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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