North Carolina Entrepreneurs Meet With Regional EPA Administrator to Discuss Energy Efficiency, Extreme Weather̢??‰?s Impact on Small Business

Washington, DC̢??‰۝The Durham Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with small business organization Small Business Majority, hosted a roundtable discussion today between North Carolina small employers and EPA Administrator for the Southeast Region Heather McTeer Toney. The event gave Hampton Roads-area entrepreneurs a chance to engage in a candid conversation with EPA representatives and other small business leaders about the EPA̢??‰?s work promoting smart clean energy policies that can spur innovation, and help business owners save money and grow their companies.

̢???It̢??‰?s important for small business owners to tell the EPA how it can work hand-in-hand with small employers to further advance the clean energy economy and what they need from the agency to help them better adapt to climate change and the extreme weather events it̢??‰?s creating,̢???? said John White, Vice President of Public Policy for the Durham Chamber of Commerce. ̢???Addressing environmental issues is important for small businesses, and we were pleased to be part of such a productive discussion.̢????

Opinion polling released by Small Business Majority found North Carolina small business owners believe climate change and the extreme weather it creates are an urgent problem that can disrupt the economy and hurt small businesses, and they support clean energy policies aimed at lessening the impacts of climate change and that benefit their bottom lines. What̢??‰?s more, they support the EPA regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants and agree expanded use of renewable energy sources can have economic benefits for small business owners. They believe implementation of clean energy policies such as the Clean Air Act can help small businesses improve their bottom lines.

̢???Small businesses understand that to survive in this tough economy they need to innovate, and the EPA̢??‰?s work fostering strong energy efficiency standards will assist them in doing so by helping them save money in their own business and creating new market opportunities,̢???? said Erik Rettig, Northeast Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority. ̢???This event informed small business owners about the EPA's work promoting clean energy standards and gave employers a chance to tell the EPA how it can better work with them.̢????

To schedule a follow up interview with a small business owner who attended the event or a representative from Small Business Majority, contact Allison Abney at [email protected] or (202) 289-0957.