Nearly two dozen companies announced Wednesday the formation of a new business coalition, dubbed American Businesses for Clean Energy, in support of comprehensive climate change legislation.

Leaders from four founding members -- Gap Inc., Public Service Enterprise Group, National Grid U.S. and the Aspen Skiing Company -- spoke with reporters in a conference call Wednesday about the group's formation and goals. The panel speakers, representing utilities, apparel, and tourism industries, outlined the reasons their companies support the legislation, and the effect climate change will have on their business.

"It's intended as broad umbrella organization to show breadth of business support for climate legislation," said Christopher Van Atten, director of MJ Bradley & Associates, who facilitated the group's formation. "We're unified by a need to put a price on carbon," said Ralph Izzo, president and CEO of PSEG.

Many of the members are also involved in other climate organizations and initiatives. PSEG and National Grid worked with the Edison Electric Institute in lobbying the House climate bill, and Aspen Skiing Company's leaders have also lobbied for climate legislation in Washington. None of the companies are members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Contrary to the arguments of some business groups, ABCE members argued that climate legislation was essential for the future of their businesses and would help create jobs.

"It's only by putting these public policies in place that we'll have the certainty we'll need to make investments in this new sustainable economy," Izzo said. He noted that PSEG has invested in some renewable energy technologies, but that the solar panels they buy are made in China and the offshore wind projects they emulate are in the North Sea. "The entire supply chain... is developing overseas while we sit and wait," Izzo said.

"Every single business in the outdoor industry is deeply concerned about this," added Auden Schendler of Aspen Skiing Company. Climate change affects the entire industry, he said, especially in towns like Aspen, where winter sports employ a majority of residents. "If you knock March out of the ski season, the whole industry goes out of business," he said.

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