In Case You Missed It: Coalition Calls for Vote on Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill
(Washington, DC) – As bipartisan momentum builds behind Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman’s (R-OH) efforts to pass a comprehensive energy efficiency bill, a coalition of 85 business, industry, environmental and public interest groups are urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the bipartisan legislation to the floor for a vote. In the group’s letter, the coalition notes that the legislation “would help meet America’s goals of increasing energy productivity, enhancing energy security, reducing harmful emissions, and promoting economic growth in a financially responsible manner.”
A study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) will help create more than 190,000 jobs, save consumers $16.2 billion a year, and cut CO2 emissions and other air pollutants by the equivalent of taking 22 million cars off the road – all by 2030.
The full text of the coalition’s letter is included below:
April 28, 2014
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
S-221, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
S-230, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:
As a broad coalition of energy efficiency and environmental organizations, small and large businesses, trade associations, and public interest groups, we urge you to bring the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 2074) to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.
S. 2074, introduced on February 27, 2014 by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Rob Portman, would help meet America’s goals of increasing energy productivity, enhancing energy security, reducing harmful emissions, and promoting economic growth in a financially responsible manner. The new version of this bipartisan bill addresses energy savings in the federal government—the nation’s largest energy consumer—and includes new provisions that expand energy efficiency savings and benefits to all sectors of the U.S. economy, from schools and homes, to commercial buildings, industry, and manufacturing.
Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way to tackle domestic energy demand. Wasted energy not only weakens our national competitiveness on a global scale, but also compounds the financial burdens of businesses and consumers. An analysis of the new bill by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that by 2030, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act would create more than 190,000 jobs, save consumers $16 billion a year, and cut carbon dioxide by the equivalent of taking 22 million cars off the road.[1]
Energy efficiency has always been a bipartisan issue. By fully deploying the power of energy efficiency, we can help create new jobs, save energy and money, and reduce carbon emissions. This legislation affords Congress the opportunity to assist the economy without undue cost or regulatory burden.
For these reasons, we urge you to schedule the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act for a vote in the near future so that Americans can begin reaping the many benefits of energy efficiency.
Sincerely,
Alliance to Save Energy
A.O. Smith
ACEC
ACEEE
Acuity Brands
AHRI
Air Barrier Association of America
Alliance for Industrial Efficiency
American Chemistry Council
American Gas Association
American Public Power Association
ASHRAE
Association of Energy Engineers
BASF
Big Ass Solutions
Brayer Corporation
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Business Roundtable
Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association
Conservation Services Group
Copper Development Association
Council of North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Cree
Danfoss
DESSC
The Dow Chemical Company
Dow Corning Corporation
Earth Day Network
Edison Electric Institute
EIFS Industry Members Association
Energy Future Coalition
Enterprise Community Partners
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
Grundfos
Habitat for Humanity International
Honeywell
Illuminating Engineering Society
IMT
Information Technology Industry Council
Ingersoll Rand
Interfaith Power & Light
International Association of Lighting Designers
Johns Manville
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Kingspan Insulated Panels
Knauf Insulation
Large Public Power Council
Legrand
Lockheed Martin
LonMark International
Manufactured Housing Institute
Masco
NAESCO
NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
Nalco (an Ecolab Company)
National Association for State Community Services Program
National Association of Electrical Distributors
National Association of State Energy Officials
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Fenestration Rating Council
National Grid
National Insulation Association
National Roofing Contractors Association
OSRAM SYLVANIA
Owens Corning
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Philips
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)
Praxair, Inc.
Rebuilding Together
Rinnai
Schneider Electric
Seattle City Light
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Inc.
Siemens
The Stella Group, Ltd.
United Technologies Corp.
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
The Vinyl Institute
Vinyl Siding Institute
Washington Gas
Whirlpool
Window and Door Manufacturers Association
cc: Members of the U.S. Senate
[1] American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, “Savings and Jobs in the Shaheen-Portman Bill,” 2014. http://aceee.org/files/pdf/fact-sheet/s-p-handout.pdf
