Discussing Prospects for Energy Efficiency in 2012 with Sen. Mark Warner

“The challenge this year is to not get into the conventional mindset that this is an election year so nothing is going to get done,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), newly elected Alliance Honorary Chair, at a recent breakfast event with Alliance Associates. At the Feb. 8 event – part of the Alliance’s Policy Perspectives series – Warner explained the critical impetus for moving the energy efficiency agenda forward in the upcoming year. 

Working with Both Political Sides

Warner noted that the Alliance and the issue of energy efficiency “is a place that, even in this political environment, should be a safe spot for those on each side of the spectrum.” While it is unlikely for comprehensive energy legislation to get passed this Congress, incremental pieces that make fiscal sense such as energy efficiency policies can be embraced by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. Warner believes that “there is a feeling in the Senate that there is more we agree on than we don’t,” and hence there is plenty of opportunity to advance efficiency measures.

Warner sees bills such as The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 1000) and the HOMESTAR Energy Retrofit Act, which he and a bipartisan group of senators introduced during the last Congress to strengthen the economy and serve as a rallying point for businesses and policymakers alike.

Reaching Beyond Legislation

Even if the current prospect for passing comprehensive energy legislation is grim, Warner suggested that another way to reduce national energy consumption is to harness the federal government’s purchasing power. By positioning the Department of Defense and the Pentagon’s energy supply toward energy efficiency, the country can continue to make strides toward a more energy-efficient economy.

During the question-and-answer session,  Warner was asked about the inclusion of energy efficiency in the president’s Clean Energy Standard as a another means to advance efficiency through  administrative action. Warner immediately replied yes, adding that renewables are not the only clean fuels and that efficiency is truly an energy source with no carbon footprint.

Policy Perspectives

The monthly Policy Perspectives series connects Alliance Associates with key legislators and policymakers in energy efficiency. Only Alliance Associates are invited to these exclusive events, which are kept to a small audience of less than 50 individuals for a flowing discussion following the policymaker’s remarks. If your organization is an Alliance Associate, you can get updates on future Policy Perspectives events by asking us to add your contact information to our exclusive Associate events mailing list.

Alliance Policy Intern Ali Levine contributed greatly to this article.