Utility pulls plug on U.S. Chamber of Commerce membership

A major California-based utility has quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its opposition to climate legislation in Congress.

PG&E announced on its blog, next100.com, that it cited “fundamental differences” over global warming legislation in a letter sent to Chamber President Tom Donohue announcing the company’s withdrawal from the large business trade group.

“We find it dismaying that the Chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored,” PG&E Chairman and CEO Peter Darbee wrote.

Darbee contrasted efforts by the Edison Electric Institute and the U.S. Climate Action Partnership to find consensus on the issue on Capitol Hill with the Chamber’s more antagonistic approach. Darbee said he feared the Chamber, which has called for a Scopes-like trial on climate issues, had “forfeited an incredible chance to play a constructive leadership role on one of the most important issues our country may ever face.”

A Chamber spokesman responded: “We have more than 3 million members and don’t discuss the status of our membership.”

See the PG&E letter here.

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