Business Leaders Support the Administration's Finalization of Long-Overdue Mercury & Air Toxics Standards for Power Plants

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today a diverse group of business leaders representing over 125,000 businesses across the country sent the following letter to President Obama, thanking him for the timely finalization and implementation of EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants.

The text of the letter reads as follows:

"Dear President Obama, 

As leaders in the business community collectively representing over 125,000 businesses from across the U.S., we wish to thank you for sticking to strong standards and a clear compliance timeframe for the implementation of EPA's proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants. 

We represent a diverse set of business interests ranging in size from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses that support timely implementation of EPA's clean air rules.  We believe that failure to implement MATS would create significant uncertainty for the business community and delay investment.  Companies that make up the diverse pollution control industry's supply chain, consisting of businesses involved in engineering, design, construction, maintenance, transportation, and manufacturing of air pollution control systems and technologies stand ready to supply their services but needed a final rule with a clear compliance schedule in order to begin hiring more workers to meet expected demand.  In addition, MATS will yield up to $90 billion in annual air quality improvements for human health alone, leading to a healthier and more productive workforce and reducing pollution-related health care costs for businesses across the economy. 

Our experience has shown that the Clean Air Act yields substantial benefits to the economy and to businesses, and that these benefits consistently outweigh the costs of pollution reductions.  We believe the finalization of MATS is a meaningful step towards economic recovery and growth. 

On behalf of the signatories below, we thank you for reducing the burden of air pollution on businesses by supporting the timely finalization and implementation of MATS.  We hope that you will continue to support Clean Air Act pollution standards and recognize the benefits they provide to the business community.

Sincerely,
American Businesses for Clean Energy
American Sustainable Business Council
Ceres
Environmental Entrepreneurs
Main Street Alliance
Small Business Majority

cc: Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Cass R. Sunstein, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs"

http://www.supportcleanair.com/resources/letters/file/Business-Groups-Thank-White-House-on-MATS.pdf

American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE) with over 5,200 supporters nationwide is an initiative to demonstrate large and small business support for EPA's clean air rules and Congressional enactment of clean energy and climate legislation.  www.americanbusinessesforcleanenergy.org

The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) is a growing coalition of business networks and businesses committed to advancing a new vision, framework and policies that support a vibrant, equitable and sustainable economy.  The Council brings together the business perspective, experience and political will and strength to stimulate our economy, benefit our communities, and preserve our environment.  Today, the organizations that have joined in this partnership represent over 100,000 businesses and more than 200,000 entrepreneurs, owners, executives, investors and business professionals.  www.asbcouncil.org

Ceres is a national coalition of major investors, businesses and public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.  www.ceres.org

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is the independent business voice for the environment.  E2 is a national community of individual business leaders who advocate for good environmental policy while building economic prosperity.  E2 takes a reasoned, economically sound approach to environmental issues by relying on fact-based policy expertise.  As the independent business voice in the debate, E2 is effective and delivers results at both the state and national levels through its bipartisan efforts.  www.e2.org

The Main Street Alliance is a national network of state-based small business coalitions.  The Alliance creates opportunities for small business owners to speak for ourselves, advancing public policies that are good for our businesses, our employees, and the communities we serve.  www.mainstreetalliance.org

Small Business Majority is a national nonpartisan small business advocacy organization founded and run by small business owners and focused on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today.  We speak for the nearly 28 million Americans who are self-employed or own businesses of up to 100 employees.  Our organization sponsors scientific research that guides us to understand and advocate on behalf of the interests of small businesses across the country.  www.smallbusinessmajority.org

SOURCE American Businesses for Clean Energy; Main Street Alliance; Small Business Majority; American Sustainable Business Council; Environmental Entrepreneurs; Ceres