The Business Council, representing 37 smaller businesses that employ 450 in the emerging renewable energy sector, drew some figures from the Pew Environment Group.
The Pew group said the U.S. fell behind China in overall renewable energy finance and investment in 2009 — with a total U.S. renewable energy investment of just under $17 billion, compared to China’s more than $30.8 billion.
Chances for a comprehensive energy bill this year seemed to crash in July when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he wouldn’t put a bill up for a vote because it didn’t have enough support, an election year political setback for renewable energy advocates. The House narrowly passed climate and energy legislation including a cap on carbon emissions in June 2009.
The council said it “is expressing disappointment to (Ohio) Senators Voinovich and Brown for not taking action.”
Brown said, “I share the disappointment of many Ohio business leaders who support clean energy legislation. As we compete with countries like China to develop the clean energy technology of the future, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Every day we delay investments in clean energy, China spends $51 million a day to speed right past us in the race to lead the world in clean energy manufacturing.”
A Voinovich spokeswoman said the senator has introduced bills regarding nuclear power and carbon emissions storage.
Steve Caminati, who represents the group, said new domestic energy companies are growing, but would grow exponentially with federal action.
Ohio, dependent on coal combustion, is among 36 states with mandated renewable energy standards that require a certain percent of renewable power over time. But policy action needs to come at the national level to propel new industry and job creation, Caminati said.
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