(Washington, D.C.) – The inclusion of an energy efficiency resource standard in the draft climate bill released by Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) will lay the groundwork for maximizing the nation’s energy efficiency – the fastest, cheapest, cleanest way to meet America’s energy needs.

The Waxman-Markey discussion draft of “The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” incorporates several key provisions focused on energy efficiency, in addition to sections on renewable energy and curbing global warming, representing a comprehensive approach that takes into account the breadth of the energy challenges facing our country. The bill includes a federal energy efficiency resource standard (EERS), along with proposals to increase energy efficiency in homes, commercial buildings, appliances and in the transportation sector. The Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America, a national coalition of more than 60 businesses and organizations, commends Chairman Waxman, Rep. Markey and other committee members for including this crucial component of energy policy in the legislation.

The proposed national EERS would require electricity and natural gas utilities to achieve cumulative energy savings of 15 percent and 10 percent, respectively, by 2020. Earlier this month, a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, estimated that such an EERS would achieve significant benefits through increased energy efficiency, including:

• 222,000 net permanent, high quality jobs in construction, manufacturing and other fields;
• 262 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions prevented in 2020 – the equivalent of taking 48 million cars off the roads for that year;
• 390 power plants that won’t need to be built.

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Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America is a coalition of more than 60 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.