Alliance to Save Energy urges Congress to advance energy efficiency bills

The Alliance to Save Energy recently called on Congress to advance several energy efficiency bills that cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week.

The committee approved two bills introduced by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 385) and another bill related to external power supplies and energy efficiency standards (S. 226). The Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2017 (S. 239) and the Power and Security Systems Act (S. 190), both introduced by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), also cleared the Committee.

“These bills have one thing in common, which is that they advance common sense energy efficiency policies in a way that saves consumers money, improves our environment, and creates a leaner, more productive American economy,” Alliance President Kateri Callahan said. “Congress should follow the committee’s lead and finally push these bills across the finish line.”

The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act has been approved by the committee four times, but fell short of final passage by Congress on each occasion. The bill would improve model buildings codes for homes and buildings, further public-private partnerships to enhance the efficiency and productivity of American manufacturing and decrease federal spending by improving efficiency across the federal government, which is the nation’s largest energy consumer.

A study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on an earlier version of the bill found it would cut CO2 emissions significantly, create more than 190,000 jobs and save consumers $16.2 billion a year by 2030.

S. 190 would extend an exemption for certain security or safety alarms or surveillance systems from efficiency standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

S. 239 would amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of energy performance contracting in Federal facilities.