Friday: Leaders must back clean energy

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An op-ed by Tom French, Executive Director of the S.C. Clean Energy Business Alliance, urges South Carolina leaders to support clean-energy policies ahead of the state primary. French argues that clean-energy development could create over 20,000 jobs and reduce energy costs while leveraging the state's potential for solar, wind, and biomass generation.

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Saturday's primary is an important reminder that the decisions we make today can have an enormous impact on our quality of life tomorrow. This is particularly true regarding our energy supply, and how the choices we make now will affect our future well-being and economic prosperity. Studies predict the creation of more than 20,000 jobs in our state in coming years if we develop and implement policies that favor the growth of the clean-energy industry.

A more welcoming environment for clean-energy companies would attract investment and create jobs in manufacturing, operations, construction and maintenance; it also would reduce energy prices and decrease our need to import energy into the state. South Carolina has the potential to produce more electricity from solar, wind and biomass than the state currently uses.

We must ask our leaders to create a policy environment that encourages the growth of clean-energy businesses. At the same time, we must establish a business environment that views clean energy as a safe and vital investment. And we must change the image of clean energy so that it's viewed as a crucial component of South Carolina's energy portfolio. This will lead to a healthier economy, not to mention a healthier environment, for ourselves and our children.

Tom French
Executive Director
S.C. Clean Energy
Business Alliance
Columbia