Business-sponsored ad backs Markey energy vote

Supporters of a bill to lower greenhouse gas emissions continue to wage an advertising campaign to thank Rep. Betsy Markey for her vote in favor of the legislation.

The latest TV ad begins airing today and was paid for by six Colorado companies that are involved in or support alternative energy. Markey’s vote in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act likely will be an issue in her 2010 re-election campaign.

The ad, produced by the Environmental Defense Action Fund, is the third in the past two weeks thanking Markey for her vote on the ACES legislation, commonly called the cap and trade bill. There has been no similar effort critical of Markey’s vote, though the National Republican Congressional Committee paid for automated phone calls attacking her vote.

“We’re saluting Betsy Markey for voting for Colorado’s future,” states the newest 30-second TV ad, which is running on Fort Collins and Greeley cable systems.

The ad was paid for by Abound Solar, Wirsol Solar Independence, GenGreen Life, Vestas American Wind Technology, New Belgium Brewing and Bella Energy.

“Congresswoman Markey’s vote for ACES will help move Colorado, and America, into the twenty-first century,” said Jim Welch, CEO of Bella Energy and president of the Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association. “This bill is a bold step that will create new industries and millions of new jobs, while also decreasing our dependence on imported oil. This is the kind of vision and leadership we need from Congress.”

On Monday, a coalition of labor unions, progressive activists and environmental groups bought a full-page ad in the Coloradoan praising Markey’s vote for the cap and trade bill, which narrowly passed the House last month and now goes to the Senate.

Last week, the progressive group Americans United for Change ran a cable TV ad thanking Markey for her vote.

Markey’s critics struck first after her June 29 vote. The NRCC made “robo-calls” to an unspecified number of Northern Colorado homes to blast her vote.

“Your congresswoman, Betsy Markey, voted this past Friday for a huge national energy tax – a tax on natural gas and electricity that will hit every American family and small business,” the automated call said.
Click here to read the full story.