May 21, 2012

The Honorable Harry Reid                    The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader                                        Republican Leader
United States Senate                             United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510                         Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell,

As a broad coalition of energy efficiency and environmental organizations, small and large businesses, and public interest and faith based groups, we urge you to bring the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 1000) to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.

While today’s economic challenges make it difficult for consumers and businesses, energy efficiency measures are the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way to tackle growing energy demand. Wasted energy is a costly drag on our economy, but equally important amid the economic recession is that energy efficiency contributes more toward meeting this need than any other resource. Without the numerous energy efficiency improvements made since 1973, the United States would require an additional 50 percent more energy to power the current economy.

At a time when too many Americans are suffering financial hardships, energy efficiency offers real solutions that would not only help alleviate their pain, but would also deal with the short- and long-term economic, environmental and national security problems associated with rising energy use. National energy efficiency policies save money, lessen dependence on imported energy sources, decrease pollution and improve our nation’s global competitiveness. In addition, these initiatives enable domestic businesses to leverage private capital, provide long-term market certainty, spur economic growth and create jobs.

For these reasons, we ask that you schedule a vote on S. 1000, which would result in exceptional savings for consumers and businesses that could be spent in other economic sectors. Sponsored by Senators Shaheen and Portman, this bipartisan bill would implement several energy efficiency measures across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The Energy Savings and Industrial Competiveness Act was reported favorably last summer on a vote of 18-3 by the Senate Energy Committee.

An assessment conducted by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that by 2030 the Shaheen-Portman bill would save American households and businesses $59 billion in cumulative net energy costs and create 159,000 domestic jobs. ACEEE’s analysis also indicated that the legislation would cut the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the U.S. by 108 million metric tons in 2030, which would be the equivalent of taking more than 23 million cars off the road. Additionally, the energy efficiency initiatives contained in S. 1000 would help facilitate the manufacture and deployment of energy efficiency technologies at home rather than abroad, and pay for themselves through energy savings relatively quickly.

Energy efficiency has always been a bipartisan issue. Moreover, it affords Congress the opportunity to help respond to the electorate’s public calls to assist the economy without undue cost or regulatory burden at this critical moment. Again, we urge you to schedule the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency initiative for a vote in the near future so that Americans can begin reaping the benefits this proposal would yield.

Sincerely,

Alliance to Save Energy

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Aberdeen Mechanical Inc.

ABM Energy

Acuity Brands Lighting

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)

Alliance for Industrial Efficiency

American Air, Inc.

American Chemistry Council

American Institute of Architects

American Public Power Association (APPA)

ASHRAE

Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions (ASERTTI)

Avon Lake Sheet Metal Co.

The Brewer-Garrett Co.

Castle Heating & Air, Inc.

Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing

Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)

Copper Development Association Inc. 

Conservation Law Foundation

Conservation Services Group

Council of North American Insulation Manufacturers Association

Danfoss

Digital Energy & Sustainability Solutions Campaign

D. L. Page, Inc.

Duct Fabricators, Incorporated

Earth Day Network

Energy Future Coalition

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environment America

Environment Northeast

Federal Performance Contracting Coalition

FlexEnergy, Inc.

Franck & Fric. Inc.

Fulton & Associates Balance Company

Geauga Mechanical Co., Inc.

Habitat for Humanity International

HAVE, Inc.

Honeywell

Imperial Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Ingersoll Rand

Industrial First, Inc.

Institute for Market Transformation

Interfaith Power & Light

International Association of Lighting Designers

International Copper Association, Ltd.

International District Energy Association

Johns Manville

Johnson Controls, Inc.

Green Building Initiative

Green Strategies, Inc. 

Knauf Insulation

Large Public Power Council

League of Conservation Voters

Legrand

Luxury Heating Co.

Masco Corporation

Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA)

Miles Mechanical, Inc.

Nalco, an Ecolab Company

National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)

National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO)

National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

National Community Action Foundation

National Grid

National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)

Northern Ohio Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.

Oregon Environmental Council

Orion Energy Systems

Owens Corning

Philips Electronics

Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA)

Professional Balance Company (dba PBC, Inc.)

Rebuilding Together

Recycled Energy Development

Rinnai America Corporation

Robert Bosch LLC

Schneider Electric

Schweizer Dipple, Inc.

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractor’s National Association (SMACNA)

Sibley, Inc.

Siemens

Sierra Club

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

The Dow Chemical Company

The Stella Group, Ltd.

The Wilderness Society

T. H. Martin Inc.

TRI-C Sheet Metal, Inc.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc.

Willham Roofing Co., Inc.