EMAP Director Lynch Testifies at U.S. Senate Committee Hearing:
"Small Business Solutions for Combating Climate Change"

On March 8, 2007, Chris Lynch, Director of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers’ (PA SBDC) Environmental Management Assistance Program (EMAP), testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship at a hearing entitled "Small Business Solutions for Combating Climate Change." The hearing highlighted the large role that the nation's 25 million small businesses can play in reducing U.S. energy consumption and climate change emissions. In his opening remarks and during the hearing, U.S. Senator John Kerry, who chairs the committee, referenced the successful efforts of the PA SBDCs in helping small businesses become more energy efficient. Senator Kerry underscored the impact of the Pennsylvania organization noting that six out of eight national ENERGY STAR Small Business award winners in 2006 were clients of the PA SBDC Environmental Management Assistance Program.

In his testimony, EMAP Director Lynch pointed out that the typical PA SBDC energy client can save 25-30 percent on utility bills by taking cost-effective steps to reduce energy consumption. To accomplish this, however, technical and financial assistance is often needed. In response, EMAP offers utility bill analyses, on-site energy assessments, and customized technical reports with energy management and upgrade recommendations. With aggregate small business energy consumption amounting to about 50 percent of all commercial and industrial energy use, the economic and environmental benefits that could be achieved if all small businesses could trim wasted energy use by 25-30 percent would be very significant – with energy cost savings estimated at $12-18 billion per year.

Mr. Lynch continued his testimony by stressing the need for small business financial incentives and he highlighted the success of the Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant, a micro-grant program offered by the Department of Environmental Protection. The grant program offers matching funds of up to $7,500 for energy efficiency projects, and demand has become so great that the $780,000 available this current fiscal year was exhausted in just 10 weeks. To supplement micro-grant program, as another financing option, Mr. Lynch suggested on-bill financing through energy utilities, a financing mechanism currently offered in California and some New England states. He closed by noting the impact rising energy costs are having on small businesses and the urgent need for increased energy efficiency assistance to help business owners reduce costs, save jobs, and ultimately contribute to reductions in climate change emissions.

Read the press release from the hearing.

Read the opening remarks of Committee Chairman John Kerry and the full testimonies of EMAP Director Chris Lynch and others.

Watch the video of the hearing (requires Real Player).