BEE Campaign Gives Congress the Inside Scoop on Energy Efficiency

As the U.S. House of Representatives’ 96 new members vie to make their mark as legislators, the Alliance is helping to demonstrate how they can champion energy efficiency policies to make an immediate and long-term difference.

On March 15, 2011, the Alliance’s “Build Energy Efficiency” (BEE) campaign sponsored a reception at the House for freshman members and staff to discuss of the great ways that energy efficiency addresses U.S. energy needs, and how significant energy policy would make the United States safer and more prosperous. Committee Chairman Ralph Hall served as the honorary chair of the event.

Photo: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) speaks at the Build Energy Efficiency Reception about the importance of prioritizing energy efficiency in the 112th Congress

The ‘Fuel of Choice’

“Energy efficiency should be our fuel of choice. We should drill and mine for efficiency like we drill for oil and mine for coal,” said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

Echoing Tonko’s sentiment, members of the Build Energy Efficiency campaign – including Alliance Associates Dow Chemical, United Technologies Corp. (UTC), ACEEE and Alliance President Kateri Callahan – stressed that energy efficiency is a bipartisan resource and the nation’s “first fuel.”

“At a time when gas prices continue to rise and electricity use in the United States becomes more expensive, voters want change.  Energy efficiency is the fastest way to give them that,” Callahan said.

“Through research and innovation, energy efficiency gives us a competitive advantage” added Curt Rich, UTC’s vice president of energy and environmental policy. Energy efficiency can strengthen the nation’s economy by creating new domestic jobs and saving consumers and businesses money – a “win-win” for all.

Photo: Build Energy Efficiency Campaign members, from left to right: Steve Nadel (ACEEE), Peter Molinaro (Dow), Curt Rich (UTC), Kateri Callahan (Alliance), Kevin Koonce (Council of NAIMA).

Build Energy Efficiency: Making a Case for EE in Congress

This event is part of the yearlong Build Energy Efficiency campaign that uses education to help ensure that the 112th Congress enacts forward-thinking, effective energy efficiency legislation. Through congressional outreach, seminars, hearings, field trips, consumer involvement, and new research and advocacy materials, the campaign aims to:

• Research and develop messages and supporting information on the benefits of energy efficiency policies;
• Develop a base of key bipartisan champions for energy efficiency policies; and
• Build support for energy efficiency policies from the public, businesses, and industry stakeholders in key states and districts.

More Information

For additional information, check out the Build Energy Efficiency campaign package, which was distributed at the reception.