More than eight months after the U.S. Senate passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which included a handful of programs designed to promote energy efficiency among small businesses, provide loans for purchasing energy efficient products, and encourage the use of renewable energy by small businesses, the Small Business Association has yet to act on those programs.

Two members of the Senate's Committe on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senators John Kerry and Olympia Snowe, sent an open letter to acting SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, urging her to implement those programs.

Among the initiatives included on the wishlist are establishing an "Energy Clearinghouse" program developing in conjunction with the EPA's Energy Star program to educate small business owners and employees on the benefits of energy efficiency; offering grants to Small Business Development Centers around the country to perform pilot energy audits of businesses to help them reduce their energy consumption; developing an investment project to promote research and development of renewable energy resources keyed toward small business needs; and launching a small business telecommuting program to inform small business owners about the telecommuting options for them and their employees.

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