White House Press Release - Chu, Locke, Browner Call for Comprehensive Energy Plan at Clean Energy Economy Forum with Business Leaders

WASHINGTON – America needs a comprehensive energy plan to regain control of its energy future, revitalize its economy, and break a dependence on oil that threatens our prosperity, our environment, and our national security, top Obama Administration officials said today. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner headlined a Clean Energy Economy Forum on the campus of the White House with business leaders from around the country.

Stressing the need to jump-start the American clean energy sector in order to ensure continued leadership in the global economy, the officials reiterated the President's call for comprehensive energy and climate legislation. They also answered questions and solicited the unique perspective of business leaders who have first-hand experience creating jobs while contributing to American energy independence.

"If we create the right incentives on energy, it will drive demand for clean energy and efficiency that will foster the creation of new businesses and the jobs that come with them," said Secretary Locke.

Putting action behind his message that moving aggressively to a clean energy economy is crucial to America's competitiveness, Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy will be issuing billions of dollars in loan guarantees for renewable energy. But, he added, further action is needed.

"Comprehensive energy legislation will unleash the American innovation machine to create new industries and clean sources of energy to power our economy," Chu said. "It is the single most important step we can take to secure our economic prosperity and leave a healthier planet for future generations."

Today's forum builds on a series of events held at the White House complex and around the country to continue the dialogue about energy and climate policy with a diverse array of stakeholders. Cabinet Secretaries and other leading Administration officials have held Clean Energy Economy forums with Governors in Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. They have also hosted briefings on the White House campus for a range of attendees including veterans, state legislators, environmental advocates, and business leaders.

"Key stakeholders and major segments of the American business community are signaling their support for comprehensive energy legislation," said Carol Browner. "It's time to build the clean energy economy that will keep America competitive and secure."

Below is a list of businesses and groups who were represented at today's forum:

1 Block off the Grid/Virgance, Inc., CA
A123Systems, MA
Accio Energy, MI
Adecco Government Solutions, VA
Advanced Energy Panels, NY
Agri?Tech Producers, LLC, SC
AHL?TECH, OH
Akeena Solar, CA
Algaeventure Systems, OH
Ameresco, DC
American Electric Power, OH
Archer Construction, MT
Arkansas Business Leaders for a Clean Energy
Economy, AR
Baker & McKenzie LLP, DC
Baldwin Ridge Consulting, LLC, VA
BetterWorld Telecom, VA
BlackCreek Group, VA
Blue Hill Partners LLC, PA
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, VA
Burdins Renewable energy, ME
Business Council for Sustainable Energy, DC
Calvert Asset Management Company, MD
Calvert Group, Ltd., MD
Carbon War Room, NY
Carbonetworks Corporation, CA
Christensen Global Strategies, LLC, DC
Clean Edge, CA
Climate Solutions, WA
Clipper Windpower, CA
COENCO Inc., AR
Conservation Services Group, MA
DAK Renwable Energy, SD
Earth Aid Enterprises, DC
eBay, CA
Ecoventures 1, CA
Efficiency First, MD
EKO Asset Management Partners, NY
ElectronVault, inc., CA
Element Partners, PA
Energy Coordinating Agency, PA
Entergy Corporation, LA
Environmental Defense Fund, DC
Equator LLC, NY
Equilibrium Capital, CO
Expansion Capital Partners, NY
Fisher Coachworks, MI
FLS Energy, NC
Foraker, CO
Four Corners Solar, CO
Gaelectric, North America, MT
Gamesa, PA
Glacier Guides/Montana Raft, MT
Global Solar Center, NY
Green Harvest Technology, MN
Green Water Consulting, CA
Greenfire Development, NC
GreenOrder, NY
GreenScience Exchange, CA
GreenVolts, Inc., CA
Hara, CA
Harvest Moon Partners, WA
Heston Wind, WI
Hewlett?Packard Company, DC
Home Performance Washington, WA
Illumination Renewables LLC, NC
ImageTree Corporation, WV
ImbuTec, PA
Imperium Renewables, Inc, WA
Independent Power Systems, MT
INEOS Bio, IL
Infinia Corporation, WA
Interstate Traveler Company, MI
Inventive Development, Inc., PA
Johnson Controls, DC
Jones Lang LaSalle, IL
K&L Gates LLP, CA
Komax Solar, PA
Lennox International, Inc., TX
Levi Strauss & Co., CA
Limbach Facility Services, PA
LivingHomes, CA/NC
M.J. Bradley & Associates, LLC, MA
Mann Plumbing/Solar Energy Systems, IN
Mariah Power, MI/NV
McKinstry, WA
MDV ?? Mohr, Davidow Ventures, CA
Melink Corporation, OH
MissionPoint Capital Partners, CT
Montana Sustainable Building Systems, MT
Nanosolar, CA
Natel Energy, Inc., CA
National Grid, DC
National Venture Capital Association, VA
Natural Power Concepts, HI
New Energy Finance, MI
NGEN Partners, DC
Nike, DC
North Face, CA
NRDC, FL
Nth Power, CA
Object Management Group, NJ
Orbit Energy, Inc., NC
Osage Bio Energy, VA
Outpost Solar, TN
Pacific Carbon Exchange, CA
Pacific Crest Securities, OR
Pacific Gas and Electric Comapny, CA
Pax, NH
Pegasus Sustainable Century Merchant
Bank/Lighting Science Group, NY
Phanes Solar, a Division of Capial
Communications, MT
PowerHouse/ The Garage, MT
Principle Power, WA
Project Green America, MD
PSEG, NJ
PSi, NC
Quinn Gillespie & Assoc, DC
Recycled Energy Development, LLC, IL
Renaissance Lighting, VA
Resolve Capital, CA
Ridgewood Capital, CA
Rive Technology, Inc, MA
Rockwell Collins, VA
SAIC, VA
Schiller Consulting, CA
Seagrass Recovery, FL
Serious Materials, CA
Seventh Generation, VT
Sharp Solar, CA
Shell, DC
SJF Ventures, NC
Sky WindPower, CO
SoCore Energy, IL
SoCore Energy, IL
Solazyme, Inc., CA
Solena Group, Inc., DC
Soltherm/Vanir Energy, NC
Spectrum Consulting, CA
Sponsored by Interstate Traveler, VA
Spring Ventures, CA
State of AR/Lilly's, AR
Stoel Rives LLP, WA
Sun Microsystems, MA
Sungevity, CA
SunRise Solar Inc., IN
Sustainable Future, TN
SVB Financial Group, CA
Symantec, DC
SynGest Inc., CA
TAS, TX
TechVision21, DC
The Building Doctors, CA
The Dow Chemical Company, MI
The Freshwater Trust, OR
The Pacific Carbon Exchange, CA
The S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce, SC
Tioga Energy, Inc., NY
Tree Hugger's Consulting, AR
United Fisherman of Alaska, AL
United Solar Ovonic, MI
Virgin America Inc., CA
Vortex Advisors LLC, NJ
Vox Energy Solutions, PA
Weber Shandwick, WA
Wellford Energy Advisors, DC
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, CA
WindPole Ventures, MA
Winds of Change Leaseholding, LLC, AR
Wolfensohn & Co., NY
Workhouse, CA
World's Greenest Building, OR
WSGR, DC
ZeaChem, CO