Just one week after its re-introduction, the latest version of the Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill is gaining momentum in Congress.
Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Senator Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire co-sponsored the bill, which was making its way through congress last year. However, the Senate attached a provision to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, to the bill, and it stalled without a vote. When the session expired, the bill essentially died.
The bill cuts energy costs for taxpayers, and could create up to 190,000 jobs by 2030 while saving up to $16 billion a year. It will do this by improving energy efficiency in the construction of homes and office buildings, provide training for green jobs, and reduce energy waste. The new bill will also create cost-sensitive residential and commercial energy efficiency targets set by the U.S. Department of Energy, allow appraisers and building owners to consider energy efficiency when valuing real estate and create energy efficiency guidelines for government buildings and schools.
NAED, along with a wide variety of organizations, strongly supports the Shaheen-Portman Bill.
Here is what others are saying about it’s support:
“Commercial tenants have an essential role to play in managing energy efficient buildings, and this no cost proposal gives them an incentive to voluntarily implement cost-effective measures to responsibly reduce energy consumption. I will continue to work across party lines to advance this common sense legislation.”
–U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
“Investing in energy efficiency is a simple way to create jobs, save money, and build a better future for our country… The Shaheen-Portman bill will help the federal government, communities, and industries across our nation realize the significant cost savings that come with energy-efficiency upgrades… This bipartisan bill is an important signal to the private sector that energy efficiency is a critical policy priority that Democrats and Republicans can come together to support.”
–U.S. Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE)
“I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to encourage efforts to increase energy productivity, which can help create jobs and stimulate additional economic growth.”
–U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
“The reintroduction of this common-sense legislation reaffirms that energy efficiency is a bipartisan, cost-effective way to address our nation’s energy challenges. I’m thrilled to see Sens. Shaheen and Portman defying Washington gridlock and ensuring that energy efficiency leaps once again to the forefront of the national energy debate.”
– Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy
“BCSE commends Senator Shaheen and Senator Portman for their bipartisan leadership. With the re-introduction of this legislation, and their commitment to seeing it get over the finish line, they are helping to set our country on the course towards greater energy efficiency and economic growth.”
– Lisa Jacobson, President, The Business Council for Sustainable Energy
“We commend Senators Shaheen and Portman for their tireless efforts to secure passage of this bipartisan legislation. Energy efficiency is a guaranteed route to energy savings, lower costs and more competitive industries, and we are proud the U.S. business of chemistry creates many of the innovations and technologies that make energy efficiency possible. It is a key source of clean energy and must be a central part of any national energy strategy.”
Cal Dooley, President and CEO, American Chemistry Council
“The Shaheen-Portman ‘ESIC Act’ is a smart, commonsense bill and a ‘triple-win’ — especially with its Tenant Star component. It spurs our economy by creating jobs, boosting innovation and enhancing energy security; it saves money for building owners and tenants; and it preserves our environment by cutting greenhouse gases.”
– Jeffrey DeBoer, President and CEO, The Real Estate Roundtable
“Senators Shaheen and Portman have taken a very good energy efficiency bill and made it even better. NEMA has been committed to moving this bill through the Senate and our support is now stronger than ever.”
– Evan R. Gaddis, President and CEO, National Electrical Manufactures Association
“Through strengthening building codes for homes and commercial buildings, encouraging manufacturing and supply chain efficiency, and requiring the federal government to use energy savings techniques in its data centers, the first version of the bill purported to be able to provide cumulative net consumer savings of $59 billion over the 2012-2030 period and create 159,000 jobs by 2030.”
“The Shaheen-Portman efficiency bill is an important step in making American businesses more competitive… Policies supporting the expansion of industrial energy efficiency have garnered support from members of both political parties. The Senate should take up and pass the Shaheen-Portman bill as an essential first step in expanding the deployment of these proven and highly efficient technologies.”
–Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew’s clean energy program
“The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014, introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH),1 contains a variety of provisions designed to promote energy efficiency technologies and foster job creation. These provisions cut government and industrial energy waste and help homeowners finance energy efficiency improvements, among other energy-saving measures. An analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) of the economic and energy impacts of the bill and a number of amendments demonstrates that the measures could reduce energy use, save consumers money, and create jobs.”
–American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
“A national survey among 1,000 likely voters clearly illustrates broad support for energy efficiency. Nine in ten voters support using energy efficient products and believe it’s important to include energy efficiency as part of our country’s energy solutions. The support for energy efficiency cuts across demographic and political lines.”
–National Associations of Manufacturers
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