Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill Introduced
Originally published by: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen — February 28, 2014
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U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) renewed their push for a national energy efficiency strategy by reintroducing an updated version of the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) on Thursday, February 27, 2014 The legislation has received widespread support from Democrats and Republicans as well as industry leaders, energy-efficiency advocates and environmental stakeholders because it reduces pollution, saves consumers money and creates jobs.
The new version of Shaheen-Portman is cosponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Al Franken (D-MN), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and John Hoeven (R-ND).
“Energy efficiency remains the fastest and most cost-effective way to address our nation’s energy needs and this legislation will be a big step in moving toward a more energy-efficient economy,” Shaheen said.“Our bill is good for the economy, taxpayers and the environment and I look forward to working with my colleagues to move it through the Senate swiftly.”
“This bill has garnered such widespread support because of a simple fact – it is good for the economy and good for the environment. It’s part of an energy plan for America that can help bring the jobs back, help fix our trade deficit, help make our manufacturers more competitive, and actually help to protect the environment,” Portman said. “And at the same time, it encourages the implementation of energy efficient techniques throughout our economy that could save taxpayers billions of dollars.”
The reintroduced Shaheen-Portman legislation uses a variety of low-cost tools to help energy users become more efficient while making the country’s largest energy user – the federal government – reduce its energy use through the use of energy-efficient technology. The deficit neutral bill incentivizes the use of efficiency technologies that are commercially available today, can be widely deployed across the country, and quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. The reintroduced bill incorporates an additional ten bipartisan amendments that will help the United States transition to a more energy-efficient economy while driving economic growth and private sector job creation.
A study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that Shaheen-Portman will 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.
