New NSBA Report Examines Clean Energy Small Businesses

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Nov 17, 2011, 12:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today released a new report, "Profiling Energy Industry Entrepreneurs: What Can Be Done to Foster Clean Energy Entrepreneurship in a Time of Fiscal Restraint?" which offers detailed information on the emerging industry of small, clean energy businesses.

"Up to this point, very little has been known about these companies other than their great potential," stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. "This new report profiles several of the emerging leaders of this new industry and offers detailed policy imperatives to help small, innovative green businesses start and grow."

The report was produced with support from the Bipartisan Policy Center and provides profiles on six small businesses that are developing new, clean energy technologies. The report outlines the myriad challenges they have faced along the way, including accessing financing and protecting their innovations in the midst of a recession. It goes on to outline how government programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research program play an important role in their overall growth.

In addition to the detailed profiles, the report offers policy recommendations to help spur this emerging industry, including: strengthen government research and development programs to aid smaller firms—such as the SBIR program; support state-based business incubators that specialize in this industry; ease "soft" costs such as permitting fees; and expand current utility-financed projects such as on-bill financing.

"These small, clean energy firms hold great promise beyond their obvious environmental impacts," stated Larry Nannis, CPA, NSBA chair and shareholder at Katz, Nannis + Solomon, P.C. "They have the potential to help all small businesses enhance their energy efficiency and remain an untapped market for job growth in the U.S. at a time when we need it most."

Please click here to view the report.

Since 1937, NSBA has advocated on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. A staunchly nonpartisan organization, NSBA reaches more than 150,000 small businesses nationwide and is proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.nsba.biz.

SOURCE National Small Business Association