Shaheen to Senate: Time is Now to Vote on Energy Efficiency Bill

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) spoke on the Senate floor July 30 to urge Congress to bring forward her bipartisan energy efficiency legislation for a vote.

Introduced with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESICA, S. 1000) would create a national strategy to increase energy efficiency in buildings, the industrial sector, and the federal government. 

Boosting EE with Building Codes, Appliance Standards, Loan Programs

In her address to Senate leaders, Shaheen stressed ESICA's broad support: "It's a strategy that is important whether you support fossil fuels – oil and gas; whether you support nuclear; or whether you support wind and solar.  We all benefit from energy efficiency."

Shaheen also noted that the legislation's low-cost tools – which include updated building energy codes, new home appliance standards, and loan programs for investments in energy-efficient equipment – stand to save Americans billions of dollars annually and create thousands of U.S. jobs.

Shaheen noted that she and Portman are attaching ESICA as an amendment onto several bills that the Senate is considering before its summer recess begins on Aug. 6. The tactic aims to increase the bill's chances of receiving a vote.

Alliance to Save Energy Backs Shaheen-Portman Bill

Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan echoed Shaheen's call for the Senate to pass ESICA, which is known as the "Shaheen-Portman bill."

In a video statement, Callahan noted that Americans want more jobs, lower taxes and stronger industry – all things that the Shaheen-Portman bill does through energy efficiency.