WASHINGTON -- January 4 -- In a letter delivered today and signed by 26 of its member groups, the Sustainable Energy Coalition thanked former President Clinton for his remarks at a recent forum which explored options for addressing climate change and oil dependency through greater use of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The signers wrote: "We strongly agree with the statements made by you and other forum speakers that noted the link between energy use and both national security and environmental degradation. We also second your observations about the compelling need to address the worsening problem of global climate change as well as the importance of reducing U.S. reliance on unstable Middle Eastern governments as part of the strategy for fighting international terrorism.

"Moreover, we agree that investments in the cross-section of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy offers tremendous opportunity for creating good-paying jobs for American workers as well as new domestic industries. As you observed, bold investments in sustainable energy technologies can generate economic growth while cutting the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

"We very much welcome your commitment to use your platform as former President to promote the issues of expanding the use of sustainable energy and reducing consumption of polluting and insecure energy sources such as petroleum and coal."

The full text of the letter and the list of signers follows.

The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations founded in 1992 to promote increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, N.W.; #202-A
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201

January 4, 2005

President William Clinton
The William J. Clinton Foundation
55 West 125th St.
New York, NY 10027

Dear President Clinton:

We, the undersigned member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC), would like to congratulate and thank you for your initiative in convening the December 6 forum at New York University which explored options for addressing climate change and oil dependency through greater use of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

We would also like to thank you and your staff for inviting members of the SEC to have booths in the foyer of the conference.

As you may know, the SEC is a coalition of nearly 100 national and state-level business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations which collectively represent several thousand companies and community-based groups.

Since its founding in 1992, the SEC has worked to promote increased use of energy efficiency and the cross-section of renewable energy technologies, including wind, geothermal, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, corn-based ethanol and other biofuels. We view these as cost-effective strategies for addressing climate change and other environmental concerns, curbing dependency on oil imports and the attendant risks they pose to national and homeland security, reducing the public health impacts of energy use, and for creating new, high-quality, domestic jobs and businesses.

Accordingly, we strongly agree with the statements made by you and other forum speakers that noted the link between energy use and both national security and environmental degradation. We also second your observations about the compelling need to address the worsening problem of global climate change as well as the importance of reducing U.S. reliance on unstable Middle Eastern governments as part of the strategy for fighting international terrorism.

Moreover, we agree that investments in the cross-section of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy offers tremendous opportunity for creating good-paying jobs for American workers as well as new domestic industries. As you observed, bold investments in sustainable energy technologies can generate economic growth while cutting the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

In addition, we concur that constituencies are emerging at the local, state, and national levels that are supporting innovative proposals to promote energy efficiency and cleaner energy production technologies. As you correctly stated, this can be, and should be, a bipartisan issue in the United States.

Lastly, we very much welcome your commitment to use your platform as former President to promote the issues of expanding the use of sustainable energy and reducing consumption of polluting and insecure energy sources such as petroleum and coal.

Accordingly, we look forward to the opportunity to work with you on this important endeavor in the weeks and months ahead.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Affordable Energy
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
American Solar Energy Society
American Wind Energy Association
Bob Lawrence & Associates
Breakthrough Technologies Institute
Burlington Electric Department
Cascade Associates
Clean Fuels Foundation
Colorado Energy Group
Energy Innovations
Environmental & Energy Study Institute
Global Green USA
Methanol Institute
National Environmental Trust
National Hydropower Association
New Community Project
New Uses Council
Potomac Resources, Inc.
Solar Energy Industries Association
The Stella Group Ltd.
SustainableBusiness.com
Union of Concerned Scientists
U.S. Combined Heat & Power Association
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

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