Many businesses chafed on Monday at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s declaration that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health.
But executives at the two largest U.S. solar power companies took a shine to the statement, which clears the way for federal regulation and came as a global climate summit opened in Copenhagen. Now they’ll keep their eyes on Congress to act on future legislation.
First Solar’s chairman and former chief executive Mike Ahearn called the EPA’s move “an affirmation of the administration’s commitment to addressing climate change.”
“We look forward to a comprehensive legislative proposal next year that will provide a policy structure that combines putting a price on carbon emissions with rapid deployment of sustainable, non-emitting energy sources,” Ahearn said in an email.
SunPower’s chief executive Tom Werner also applauded the move — with a nudge towards Congress.
“Today’s EPA announcement encourages Congress and governments worldwide to develop a schedule for addressing climate change by significantly lowering carbon emissions. SunPower is looking forward to helping ensure that, in the U.S., federal carbon legislation reduces carbon emissions by increasing the use of clean, renewable solar power,” Werner said in a statement.
(Photos: Chief Executive Officer of SunPower Corp Tom Werner speaks during the Reuters Global Energy Summit in New York. Photo credit: Brendan McDermid / Reuters)
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