New Research Paper Assesses EPA's Clean Power Plan on Small Firms, Finds Entrepreneurs and Economy can Benefit

Washington, DC: Today Small Business Majority released an assessment of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan on small businesses, which found the proposal is an essential step toward addressing the threat of climate change while bolstering small businesses and unleashing new economic opportunities. The paper includes small business friendly recommendations policymakers can follow as they begin implementing the Clean Power Plan standards limiting the emissions of carbon from existing power plants for the first time.

The paper discusses why the EPA's proposal will help small businesses looking for market opportunities in the clean energy economy through demand- and supply-side job opportunities in construction, manufacturing, strategic consulting, energy efficiency and green marketing, just to name a few. The paper also highlights examples of existing state policies that have been successful in reducing emissions, spurring innovation and providing cost savings.

"Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy. Since 2010, we've polled entrepreneurs on clean energy policies and found consistent and broad support" said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority." As state policymakers move forward in implementing these clean energy policies, its important they understand the small business perspective so employers' unique needs and interests are addressed."

Specifically, the paper finds the EPA's Clean Power Plan will help small businesses and the economy by:

• Spurring innovation and investment in low and no-carbon technologies
• Helping create new energy infrastructure and energy efficiency technologies, as well as services
• Providing the market signals businesses, entrepreneurs and investors need in energy and environmental policies
• Mitigating the effects of climate change and extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc on small firms by reducing carbon emissions.

"There is a lot of discussion about how lower short term energy costs are making it possible to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S." said small employer Rolf Poeting, owner of Glassautomatic Inc. / Rolf Glass in Mount Pleasant, Penn.  However, if we want to remain competitive in a global marketplace, we cannot let today's low energy costs lead us into complacency. We need to continue to up our game. This includes taking steps today to reduce energy consumption for the long haul."

The paper also includes recommendations policymakers can follow when implementing clean energy policies. They include:

• Supporting meaningful reductions to address climate risk by implementing EPA's compliance Option 1 instead of Option 2. Option 2, which proposes a shorter compliance time frame with a less stringent emissions reductions standard, would create less opportunity for job creation.
• Mitigating rate impacts by implementing targeted energy efficiency education programs for small businesses; utilizing resources to help subsidize the purchase and installation of energy efficient technologies by small businesses; and partnering with utilities and regulators to develop energy assistance programs for vulnerable or at-risk small businesses.
• Driving innovation and business opportunities for small businesses while mitigating risk by allocating resources towards small businesses for facilitating the development of disaster recovery plans in order to help safeguard investments in energy efficiency, renewables and other small business infrastructure investments.

For the full report, please visit: http://smallbusinessmajority.org/small-business-blueprint-climate-policies-bolster-job-growth-and-economic-opportunity-assessment-epa