NEMA urges Congress to support energy modernization legislation
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) representatives hand-delivered a request on Thursday urging members of Congress to reconcile the differences between House and Senate bills for the modernization of the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The request pertained to reconciling the differences between the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015, H.R. 8, and the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, S. 2012. The request included recommendations from the electroindustry and was sent to U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
“Electrical manufacturers applaud our lawmakers’ leadership on energy efficiency and grid modernization policies,” NEMA President and CEO Kevin Cosgriff said. “America needs an energy policy that facilitates innovation, enhances energy savings, improves the regulatory process, and expands the global competitiveness of American manufacturers through the use of smart manufacturing technologies and processes.”
The letter included NEMA’s recommendations for the modernization of the country’s grid infrastructure and regulatory processes to better support energy innovations. It included a focus on energy efficiency in building, motor vehicles, and transformers; suggested new energy conservation standards; and supported the inclusion of energy storage as an energy reliability strategy.
The letter also included a request to update the Department of Energy’s Strategic Plan for Grid Energy Storage, as well as the Interagency Rapid Response Team for Transmission’s transmission line regulations.
