U.S. Chamber Reveals Negative Economic Impact if Misguided Climate Change Policy Passes

LAS VEGAS, NV—Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a group of national and state partners held a discussion to draw attention to the economic implications future climate change policy could have on Nevada families, workers and businesses.

"Addressing greenhouse gas emissions means addressing economic policy," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs. "The Senate tried to move legislation this year, and it failed partly because lawmakers are talking about carbon reductions while the American public wants to talk dollars and cents. These dialogues are designed to do just that: to get government, industry and consumers talking about costs."

Economic studies of the "Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act," an economy-wide cap-and-trade bill and the Senate's main climate change vehicle in 2008, project the loss of up to 36,000 jobs and $5.7 billion dollars in gross state product (GSP) by 2030 to Nevada if the bill is passed. 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 event with national partners including the National Association of Manufacturers and the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth, and state partners including the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce along with several others. This is the seventh climate change dialogue held to date. Earlier this year events were held in New Hampshire, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Alaska and Tennessee and future dialogues will occur this fall in New Mexico, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

"Nevada's 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."

For more information on the climate change dialogues, please visit: www.yourenergyfuture.org/ or www.uschamber.com/environment.

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.

www.uschamber.com

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