White House gloats at chamber of commerce exodus over climate bill [View All]

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• PG&E, Exelon and Apple break with chamber
• Climate change bill now before the Senate
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/08/barack-obama-climate-change

The Obama administration took a deliberate step into the row that has engulfed the business world today, gloating at a mini-exodus from the US chamber of commerce because of its climate change policy.

In the administration's first comments on the row, the energy secretary, Steven Chu, did not conceal his delight that high-profile companies like California's PG&E, Exelon and Apple had broken with the chamber because of its opposition to a climate change bill now before the Senate and moves to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"I think it's wonderful," Chu said.

"I think companies like that - Exelon and others - are saying we have recognised the reality," he said. "They are saying we can't be a party to this denial and foot-dragging."