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In today’s world, it is no longer unimaginable to
think that business can operate - and even thrive -
in an environmentally-friendly manner. In fact, I
have long believed that a healthier environment must
come from a strong and collaborative relationship
between government and private industry to foster
the development of products that don’t leave a
"footprint" on the world in which we and our
children live. It is in this landscape that an
entirely new field has emerged - "green chemistry."
What in the world is this exactly? It is simply
environmentally responsible chemistry and a
promising avenue for research and development that
uses currently available industrial procedures to
design safer chemicals. Let me give a concrete
example. This year, the Environmental Protection
Agency awarded the Jeneil Biosurfactant Company its
"Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
Program Small Business Award." They were given this
award because they developed "rhamnolipid
biosurfactant," a chemical that is used in many
commercial cleaning products like contact lens
cleaning solutions, soaps, and shampoos. For years,
this naturally-occurring and biodegradable product
was too expensive and difficult to manufacture on a
large scale. But this innovative small business
discovered a way to derive this
environmentally-friendly product in a cost-effective
manner, and it could replace petroleum-based or
synthetic surfectants.
I believe this is the kind of ingenuity that must
not only be congratulated with awards, but actively
promoted by the federal government. That’s why I
recently introduced the "Green Chemistry Research
and Development Act," legislation that takes a
science-based approach to pollution prevention by
developing non-toxic chemical technology that will
leave less of an imprint on our environment.
By further developing and promoting Green Chem,
we are presented with true, environmentally-sound
alternatives to chemicals that while necessary for
industrial production are often harmful.
Federally-sponsored green chemistry research will
foster new business opportunities in an emerging
industry, serving to strengthen our economy, while
utilizing our biotechnology sector and sustainable
resources to replace chemicals that are currently in
use.
Through my legislation, a Green Chem Research and
Development Program would be established under a
federal interagency working group to promote future
research into applications of green chemistry.
Beyond sponsoring research and development conducted
at federal laboratories, the program would provide
merit-based competitive grants and foster
partnerships between universities, industry and
nonprofit organizations. The working group would
include the National Science Foundation, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
U.S. Department of Energy, and the Environmental
Protection Agency.
The research and development of Green Chem has
already made measurable progress. The University of
Maine has greatly contributed to the growing
research into this field as a leading partner in the
New England Green Chemistry Consortium - a working
partnership comprised of academic institutions and
representatives from numerous industries. I am also
pleased to have secured $500,000 for the Consortium
in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2005 Veterans Affairs
and Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD)
Appropriations bill, which was passed by the Senate
Appropriations Committee in September. Additionally,
two of the largest American chemical companies -
Dupont and Rohm & Haas; the American Chemical
Society, and the American Chemistry Council have
endorsed my bill.
There is already evidence that new business is
being born from Green Chem, including a local
business in Maine. Correct Deck - a Biddeford
company that manufactures deck boarding - has
already successfully expanded its business by using
this new technology. Correct Deck manufactures a
wood composite consisting of a blend of sawdust and
plastic that closely resembles the boarding used in
wooden decks. This composite does not splinter,
requires less maintenance than wood, is not
susceptible to termites, and contains no harmful
chemicals.
We must continue to harness the creative power of
private industry to propel our nation into the next
generation of environmentally-responsible approaches
to business. Maine’s Correct Deck is a shining
example of how green chemistry research and
development is enabling good environmental
stewardship to also be a good business practice. I
will continue working to garner Senate support for
this pro-business, pro-environment legislation.
Indeed, Green Chem is proof that you don’t need to
have one at the expense of the other - in fact, we
can achieve both and must achieve both if we hope to
live in a prosperous and healthy world well into the
future.
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