Exelon Leaves U.S. Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Change Denial

Today, John Rowe, the CEO of Exelon, announced that his company, which is the largest electric utility company in the United States, would not renew its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of its opposition to global warming action. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce claims that a cap-and-trade program to limit global warming pollution would “strangle the economy” and has even called for a “Scopes monkey trial” on the science of global warming.

It's hard to understand the denials of the Chamber of Commerce, but the economy is a favored argument of those harping against climate change. The thing is, working on green technologies can only help the economy, and even if it did not, what good is an economy without a planet?

Cynic that I am, I have to wonder what's in it for Exelon. In the press release announcing their decision to leave the Chamber of Commerce, Rowe said:

“The carbon-based free lunch is over. But while we can’t fix our climate problems for free, the price signal sent through a cap-and-trade system will drive low-carbon investments in the most inexpensive and efficient way possible. Putting a price on carbon is essential, because it will force us to do the cheapest things, like energy efficiency, first.

“Inaction on climate is not an option. If Congress does not act, the EPA will, and the result will be more arbitrary, more expensive, and more uncertain for investors and the industry than a reasonable, market-based legislative solution.”