Alliance's Joe Loper Testifies Before Congress

On Wednesday, December 10, Joe Loper, the Alliance’s Vice-President for Policy and Research, testified at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to advise Congress on the Alliance's recommendations for energy efficiency in the upcoming stimulus package. Loper's testimony reflects recommendations developed over the last month by the Alliance and the Taxes and Appropriations Group (TAG), made up of more than two dozen organizations and companies.

 

In his testimony, Loper discussed the potential for a stimulus bill to overcome what he calls a "cycle of complacency." "When the economy is good, there’s no time for energy efficiency, and when the economy is bad, there’s no money for it," said Loper in his testimony. The recommendations cited by Loper include more than $15 billion for energy efficiency – weatherization assistance, public and commercial building retrofits, as well as increased and expanded tax incentives for the manufacture and purchase of efficient appliances.

 

In the context of today's economic stresses, including a steadily climbing unemployment rate, the TAG proposals are extremely relevant. If accepted in full, these measures would create over one hundred thousand jobs, while also reducing carbon emissions, improving America’s infrastructure and reducing utility bills for years to come. While Loper urged Congress to take this opportunity to jumpstart fundamental changes in the energy economy, he also stressed that meeting the challenges we face will require not only short-term stimulus but also long-term, consistent appropriations for these crucial energy efficiency programs.