National Coalition Calls for Energy Efficiency Improvements in House and Senate
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – As lawmakers leave Washington to begin their Memorial Day recess, the Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America is calling upon House and Senate members to strengthen energy efficiency proposals currently before both bodies.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted late last night on a climate and energy package that includes a combined renewable and energy efficiency standard of 20 percent (12-15 percent from renewable sources and 5-8 percent from efficiency measures) by 2020, a marginal improvement over current national trends. Meanwhile, the Senate is considering a lesser proposal that is no better than business as usual – 19 states are currently on track to reduce nationwide electricity use by about 5 percent by 2020, more than the 4 percent efficiency savings in the Senate provisions. With these proposals, lawmakers are leaving behind tens of billions of dollars in utility bill savings for their constituents.
“Passing a bill with weakened energy efficiency standards means we will waste a great deal more energy in the coming years, while we miss opportunities to create jobs and drive technological innovation,” said Rob Kelter, Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
A preliminary analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, based on a review of current state renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts, estimates that 28 states will realize some electricity savings under H.R. 2454, resulting in national electricity savings of approximately 3 percent by 2020 relative to business as usual. Efficiency savings in individual states range from 0-8 percent due to wide variations in current policies and efforts. By comparison, under the Senate proposal, no new energy savings will be realized if the provision regarding trading of energy efficiency credits remains in place. If energy efficiency credit trading is removed, limited savings from the proposal could be realized in 18 states, for an overall reduction of approximately 1 percent of our nation’s total electricity use in 2020.
“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible on energy efficiency measures that can save consumers money and give us low cost pollution reductions,” said Rob Sargent, Energy Program Director for Environment America. “We cannot allow those who resist energy efficiency measures to let the cost of wasted energy and excess pollution be passed on to future generations.”
“Over the recess, as they hear firsthand from constituents struggling with a tight job market and a tough economy, members of Congress should remember that energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and cleanest way to meet our nation’s energy challenges,” said Steven Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy. “Recent analysis shows that strong renewable and efficiency standards will save billions for consumers, create jobs and make it easier to achieve climate goals. They should be a core component of any final climate and energy bill passed by Congress.”
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Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America is a coalition of more than 75 leading businesses, industry associations, faith organizations and environmental groups advocating for a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) to help the nation maximize energy efficiency – the fastest, cheapest, cleanest way to meet our growing energy needs while creating jobs, saving consumers money, boosting American competitiveness and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit www.energyefficiencyworks.org.
