Sen. Murkowski talks about US energy saving programs at IEA commission meeting

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) discussed the importance of efficiency in saving energy, reducing energy bills, promoting economic growth, and addressing climate change at the inaugural meeting of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency (Commission) in Paris.

Murkowski, an honorary member of the commission, also highlighted several successful U.S. initiatives, including the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).

“We call efficiency the ‘first fuel’ because it is often our best option, but as IEA has identified, we need to do more to promote investment in efficiency through proven and pragmatic policies,” Murkowski said. “That starts with identifying what has worked both in the U.S. and around the world, and one of those examples is FEMP. The federal government is our nation’s largest consumer of energy, which presents an opportunity to save both energy and taxpayer dollars. I thank Dr. Birol and the IEA team for inviting me to join this commission and to help develop a voluntary roadmap for countries to follow to increase their efficiency.”

FEMP, which was established in 1975, has saved taxpayers an estimated $50 billion, Murkowski said. She introduced legislation to formally authorize FEMP as an established program and set longer-term energy and water conservation goals. Murkowski is the only U.S. federal official on the commission, which was established in July 2019.