Marking the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Tampa Bay leaders gathered at the LEED Gold certified Walker Brands building on Thursday morning to call on the Senate to adopt a revised climate and energy bill that will be released in the Senate on Monday, April 26, 2010 by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Kerry (D-MA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) that would limit the states' climate laws and regulations, and curb EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse emissions.
The event held at Walker Brands was part of an "Earth Day Revolution for Clean Energy Patriots," marking the culmination of 40 Days of Earth Day events where citizens from all across Florida have been speaking out on the need for a new direction on energy.
"Clean energy policies and innovations is the key to a long time national security, climate security and economic security," said John Wakefield, Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Eco2Asset Solutions.
According to the Department of Energy, adoption of LED lighting, an environmentally friendly light-emittidng diode, can reduce electricity demands by 62 percent over the next 20 years.
Kristen Watson, spokesperson for Sunovia Energy Technologies in Sarasota, talked about some of the products Sunovia has within the LED lighting and solar markets that, not only reduces carbon emissions and preserves the environment, but can also save tax payers millions of dollars.
"The public is led to believe that energy conservation and clean energy reduction are either too expensive or too intrusive to adopt, and that is simply not the case," Watson said.
Studies have shown that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies can create up to 78,000 jobs in Florida by creating and retaining millions of clean energy jobs in the construction sectors.
"If this legislation is passed it will provide Sunovia with the incentive and support we need to continue developing our world changing products and growing our sustainable business," Watson said.
A comprehensive clean energy emission bill will try to address each sector of the economy by having its own regulatory structures and making more business go green.
Nancy Walker, President of Walker Brands, took the initiative in the community by making Walker Brands building Tampa's First LEED Gold Certified building.
"Innovation is one of our brand attributes," Walker said. "It was challenging, but we hope that through our example businesses will receive more clarity and confidence in bringing green buildings forward."
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.