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Accelerating progress towards a clean, low carbon economy is not only better for the environment, but can also play a major role in reviving the economy. With lawmakers increasingly looking for ways to implement clean technology policy, the time for influencing good decisions is now. That’s one of the reasons Full Circle Fund members Josh Becker, Sanjay Wagle, Jack Oswald, Rahul Prakash and others recently co-founded the innovative Clean Economy Network (CEN) in an effort to help increase the national voice for the business community in shaping clean energy policy.

CEN is a group of business leaders, investors, professionals, workers and entrepreneurs engaged in catalyzing clean development and creating green jobs. Explains Josh Becker, “The framework that will shape clean energy policy is being created now and we need to communicate persuasively with lawmakers. If we don’t provide input, effective policy will not be written.”

CEN grew out of a recognition that Full Circle Fund’s Environment/Energy (E/E) circle has had since its launch with Vice President Al Gore in 2007: that pushing on policy is critical and our best hope for economic growth, climate stability, energy security, and competitiveness.

With Green Cities, for instance, (a current E/E Circle grantee) the goal is to provide role models and case studies so that cities can learn about greening from each other and affect policy in that way. Imagine H20, another E/E Circle grantee, is affecting policy around the water crisis by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in the water sector. Additionally, the efforts of the Ella Baker Center, also an E/E grantee, have led to a national green jobs movement and millions of dollars put into the development of green collar jobs.

Individuals are encouraged to get engaged by visiting www.cleaneconomy.net. CEN offers various levels of engagement, providing direct insight and access to the policy-making process. The hope is that this network will eventually be a nationwide resource that Full Circle Fund and others can tap into to communicate key messages and help advance good policy.

Posted in Rahul Prakash, Jack Oswald, Clean Economy Network, environment, Josh Becker