Keeping American jobs on our turf

Companies all over the country are feeling the effects of the weakened economy. On top of that, anticipated climate change legislation is making it difficult for new ventures to get off the ground.

Take for example this U.S. steel manufacturer, facing the tough decision of building a major iron plant in Louisiana...or beyond U.S borders in Brazil.

While the company—North Carolina-based Nucor—is in good shape financially, the New Orleans Times-Picayune notes that impending legislation that would regulate carbon dioxide could create "huge financial stakes for industrial plants" that emit CO2. The sobering challenge as Nucor's chief operating officer sees it: if new environmental regulations carry a high cost to manufacturers, then companies will look beyond U.S. borders for expansion. And that means even fewer jobs for us here in America.

But here's the thing. I don't think this has to be an either/or situation. We don't have to choose between American jobs and a cleaner environment. This story merely illustrates the need to do things right. And that includes developing and deploying technologies like carbon capture and storage that will allow U.S. businesses to operate here on American soil-feeding communities and families alike.

We know that coal can be a part of our balanced energy portfolio and a low-carbon future. We also know that clean coal technologies can help rejuvenate struggling economies. I believe that between industry and government, we can find a way to put these technologies-and struggling Americans-to work.