Some companies would clearly benefit from laws and regulations that drive up the price of carbon and mandate or subsidize wind and solar power. That’s why 2,400 lobbyists were working on energy and climate in Washington last year, and General Electric alone spent $7.6 million lobbying during Q2-2009.

GE hopes to garner up to $192 billion over the next several years from renewable energy, electricity grid modernization and other projects funded by governments (ie, taxpayers) worldwide. Other members of the “climate-industrial-government-activist-scientist complex” likewise have a stake in massive government spending to “prevent a climate cataclysm” and terminate our “perilous dependence on fossil fuels.”

Exelon, Duke Energy, Penn State (home of Michael Mann of “hockey stick” and “hide the decline” fame), NASA (James Hansen’s abode) and similar institutions see solid potential “returns on investment” from lobbying and alarmist science. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says carbon permits would be a “boon” for the Big Apple’s financial sector, creating a commodities market of “as much as $3 trillion by 2020.”

Insurance companies and reinsurers would happily “disclose” alleged 20-foot higher sea levels and more violent hurricanes conjured up by computer models. These scare stories translate into “increased risk,” higher premiums and extra profits.

Al Gore hopes to convince us we face “an unimaginable calamity” and recoup losses incurred by his Generation Investment Management firm. The carbon offsets and trading waters have been treacherous of late – based as they are on intangible “hot air” and shifting political winds.

Carbon trading on the Chicago Climate Exchange began at $1 per metric ton in January 2004. Prices fluctuated wildly, reaching a $7 peak value in May 2008, before crashing to $0.10 in October 2009. Speculators who entered the carbon market on 5/30/08 lost 98.6% of their investment.

Imagine how they might have fared if SEC rules had compelled utility companies, the Chicago Exchange, and US Climate Action Partnership members to truthfully disclose what was going on in Congress and the IPCC. Imagine the roller coaster ride that GE, Exelon and Munich Re investors could take, as more sordid details come out of the IPCC, concerns soar about US deficits, jobs and credit ratings, and taxpayer anger rises over climate fraud, subsidies and sweetheart deals.

Companies like these hope to get rich off cap-and-trade and EPA “endangerment” rules. However, millions of businesses, employees and families would pay dearly. Over thirty states depend on coal for 35-98% of their electricity and a sizable portion of their jobs and tax revenues. All rely on oil and natural gas.

As US Chamber members recognize, climate change laws and regs would send energy costs skyrocketing, ship jobs overseas, and shackle living standards and civil rights. Even USCAP members are beginning to recognize those realities, the questionable “science” behind IPCC disaster scenarios, the declining odds for passage of new climate laws, and the plummeting value of “seats at the negotiating table.” They also know a new West Texas wind farm created 2,800 “green jobs” – but 2,400 are in China, and just 400 temp jobs are in the USA.

Moreover, many companies and regions would benefit from more atmospheric carbon dioxide and a warmer world, as those changes would increase arable farmland, growing seasons and crop yields; extend building and road construction seasons; and reduce heating bills and cold-related deaths.

The SEC has opened the door to more informative news releases, shareholder reports and investor kits. Wise corporate executives will embrace the offer.