“Americans are already paying the price of inaction,” said President Obama today during his speech on climate change at Georgetown University. After using the “facts of science” to prove that climate change is real, he asked, “So the question now is will we have the courage to act now before it’s too late. We need to act. “I refuse to condemn your generation and future generations to a planet that’s beyond fixable. And that’s why today I’m announcing a new national climate action plan and I’m here to enlist your generation’s help.”

In anticipation of his plan, groups from around the country reacted to his new climate plan. Graham Richard, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) said, “As a business voice for technology-driven energy progress, AEE believes that President Obama’s plan moves the United States toward a smarter energy future, for economic as well as environmental benefits.”

“Energy efficiency standards will save money as well as energy,” Richard continued. “Utilizing public lands for their solar and wind resources follows in the footsteps of mineral resources and forestry products and should be pursued in the interest of national prosperity. New regulations on emissions will accelerate the replacement of outmoded power plants with high efficiency and low emitting technologies. All of these steps will make the U.S. more of a leader in advanced energy, which is a $1 trillion global market opportunity for American companies and American workers.”

The advanced ethanol industry is standing behind the Obama Administration in their effort to address climate change said Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. He noted that the President was correct to identify the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and existing federal regulations as critical in GHG emission reduction efforts.

“Pound for pound, advanced ethanol is the most carbon reductive alternative to gasoline in the world, and the RFS is driving the commercial deployment of our industry,” said Coleman who said climate change is more than average global temperatures. “We’re talking about a global race to commercialize next generation fuels as conventional oil becomes increasingly scarce and new unconventional reserves only come online at considerable expense. Inaction is not just irresponsible from a climatological perspective, it puts the United States further behind in the global race to develop new energy industries, create new American jobs and ensure that high and volatile gas prices do not continue to paralyze economic growth.”

Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board said that biodiesel can help address climate change.” As this plan makes clear, a key part of the equation in addressing climate change is breaking our dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel can help do that in a practical, cost-effective way. Used in today’s clean, efficient diesel engines, biodiesel already is the first EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel to reach 1 billion gallons of annual production. The 4.6 billion gallons of biodiesel used since 2005 have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 74 billion pounds – the same impact as removing 5.4 million passenger vehicles from America’s roadways.”

To learn more about President Obama’s Plan to Fight Climate Change click here.