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SMALLBUSINESS 

M ~ MAJORITV 

Small Business Majority is a nonprofit, nonpartisan small business organization founded and run 

by small business owners and focused on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses 

today. We represent the 28 million Americans who are self-employed or own businesses of up to 

ioo employees. Our organization uses scientific opinion and economic research and works with 

our network of more than 25,000 small business owners to understand and represent the 

interests of the sinall business community. 

I'd like to offer comments today on the small business perspective on EPA standards that would 

limit carbon emissions from new power plants, and their impact on America's 28 million small 

businesses and the economy as a whole. 

Over the last 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency has proven itself as much a protector 

of our economy as of the public's healtli, and ive see new EPA standards under the Clean Air Act 

as a key component to progressing toward a clean energy economy and to creating jobs. That view 

is based upon the fact that during the last two decades under the Clean Air Act, Gross Domestic 

Product has inereased by 64% while emissions of the most common air pollutants have declined 

by 41%.1 

Contrary to misleading claims from opponents of clean energy and environmental safeguards, 

reducing pollution is good for business, and the Clean Air Act has proven to be a wise investment 

for long-term economic growth. Studies show that the econoinic benefits of the Act have far 

exceeded the costs to businesses. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the total 

economic benefits of the Clean Air Act are estimated at more than 4 to 8 times the costs of 

compliance? Additionally, between 2010 and 2015,capital investments in pollution controls and 

new generation will create an estimated 1.46 tnillion jobs, or almost 300,000 year-round jobs on 

average for each of those five years. 

The EPA's proposed rule that would limit greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants will 

help sptir innovation and provide opportunities for small businesses. And this standard is 

supported by the vast majority of entrepreneurs. 

Our opinion polling found three-quarters of small business owners are in favor of requiring new 

power plants to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. What's more, 

56% would still support this standard even if it means an increase in utility rates. 

Our polling also found that 52% of small businesses support the EPA regulating carbon emissions 

from existing power plants that cause climate change, and another 65% support the EPA's rules to 

reduce mercury and other toxic emissions that get into the air from power plants. Six in io agree 

expanded use of renewable energy sources can have economic benefits for small business owners 

and almost 7 in io support increasing automotive fuel efficiency standards. 

' Small Business Majority economic research: THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S ECONOMIC BENEFITS: PAST, 

PRESENT AND FUTURE, October, 2010, 

http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/energy/index_national_economic.php 

' Small Business Majority econoinic research: THE CLEAN AIR ACT'S ECONOMIC BENEFITS: PAST, 

PRESEN'I' AND FUTURE, October, 2010, 

http://www.smal Ibusinessmajority.org/energy/index_national_economic.php 

© 2013 Small Business Majority •(202) 828-8357 • 1101 14th St., NW, Suite f001Washington, DC 20005 
We know that small business owners also sttpport key strategies needed to reduce pollution and 

transition to a clean energy economy. Small Business Majority's recent national poll of small 

business owners fottnd 569 ~ of entrepreneurs believe government can play an important role in 

creating financial incentives that help small businesses take energy efticiency measures, saAng 

businesses money and reducing energy consumption. 

Small business owners also believe government investments in clean energy have an important 

role in boosting our national economy and creating jobs. Our polling found 71% of small 

employers believe it's important government continues to invest in clean energy. 

While 57°Jo percent of small businesses reported their businesses will be impacted by EPA 

oversight of carbon and other emissions—including i in 4 who say they will be majorly impacted— 

as I stated earlier, 56% still support the EPA regulating greenhouse gas emissions even if it means 

a possible increase in utility prices. 

As our polling shows, small businesses believe a clean energy economy that includes robust clean 

energy standards is rife with economic possibilities. Entrepreneurs understand clean energy can 

stimulate the economy and create new jobs now, and believe we should be investing in this area to 

spur gro%vth. Despite strong small business support, efforts to set standards reducing carbon 

emissions have been blocked over and over. That comes at the expense of our economic ftttttre. 

It's important the EPA know its proposal to limit greenhouse gas emissions from new power 

plants is one small businesses stipport. 

Thank you. 

<<) 2013 Small Business Majority 2 www.smallbusinessmajority.org