Energy Secretary backs firms in climate change spat

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said he applauds companies that have quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over disagreement with the business group's climate change policy.

"I think it's wonderful," Chu told reporters at a solar energy event on the National Mall. He said the companies that left are expressing: 'We can't be a party to foot dragging, to denials (about the cause of climate change) ... and so this is part of our economic future in the United States.'

Chu said other companies should quit the group if the Chamber does not fully recognize the business possibilities in taking aggressive action against global warming. However, Chu said he would rather the Chamber change its position.

"I would encourage the Chamber of Commerce to realize the economic opportunity that the United States can lead in a new industrial revolution," said Chu, a steadfast supporter of alternative fuels and strong regulation of greenhouse gases.

"This is economic prosperity for the country," he said. "The train is about to leave the station. Other countries have figured this out."

On Monday, Apple Inc resigned from the chamber while last month three big power utilities, Exelon Corp, PG&E Corp and PNM Resources Inc, said they were leaving the chamber.

Other companies have criticized the chamber, which has pushed for public hearings to challenge the scientific evidence of man-made climate change.

Chamber President Tom Donohue defended his group's climate change position, telling reporters earlier on Thursday that companies that left the group did so because of an "orchestrated pressure campaign" by environmental organizations.

The Chamber has said it favors "mainstream, common sense views" on climate change but opposes a climate bill that the House of Representatives narrowly passed in June.

Senate Democrats unveiled their version of the bill last week that built on the House legislation, although the future of the bill is uncertain.

(Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Christian Wiessner and Lisa Shumaker)