and energy efficient technologies. Being more energy efficient is

and energy efficient technologies. Being more energy efficient is one of the reasons Toyota recently passed General Motors as the world’s largest car manufacturer.

But it is not too late for Virginia businesses to can get in on the action. There is no reason our workers and companies cannot become the manufacturers and sellers of new technologies. They only need Congress to act and implement a cap and trade system to combat global warming.

Fortunately the economic benefits of fighting climate change or just not confined to manufacturing. Fanners would also enjoy the benefits of increased demand for the crops they grow that could be used to produce biodiesel, low carbon ethanol, and other cleaner fuels. Plus, they could also get credit for farming practices that reduce emissions and store carbon in soils. , These new opportunities for farmers could ripple through rural area, helping to create jobs in small towns and farming communities across the state.

A cap on carbon emissions wifi also reduce our dependence on imported oil, by promoting the use of energy efficient technology and renewable fuels. If our overall economy does not use as much fossil fuels we will not have to import as much oil from the Middle East and other unstable regions of the world.

This August is a great opportunity for people who care about these problems to make our voices heard. Hopefully we can send a clear message to our members of Congress that when they go back to Washington, DC in September if they are serious about solving big problems, they need to be serious about passing a cap on carbon emissions.

Rob Jones is the director of the Virginia Climate Initiative located in Richmond, Virginia. You may contact him at 804-648-6299 or via email at rob@ alliancegroupltd.com, rob@alliancegroupltd.com