Policy

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Sound policy can break down barriers to energy efficiency at the local, state, regional and national levels. The Alliance promotes energy efficiency policies that are meaningful, politically viable and implementable.

Critical to the Solution

Barriers to energy efficiency — including the need for upfront capital investment, lack of consumer awareness and highly-subsidized prices for fossil fuels — often prevent even the "low-hanging fruit" from being picked. Fortunately, sound energy policy can break through these barriers and transform market conditions to create an energy-efficient nation.

Realizing energy efficiency's greatest potential is key component of the Alliance's mission and effective policy is a critical part of the solution. To achieve this goal, the Alliance Policy Team, which includes a research group and a government relations group, focuses on three main tasks:

  • Policy formulation and analysis;
  • Policy advocacy; and
  • Education of policymakers, consumers and the media.

2011: The Year in Energy Efficiency

In 2011, energy efficiency helped create jobs, cut costs and make the United States more energy independent. Read on for the biggest advances made last year in energy efficiency.

In 2011, energy efficiency helped create jobs, cut costs and make the United States more energy independent. Read on for the biggest advances made last year in energy efficiency.

Policy

Many pieces of bipartisan legislation supporting energy efficiency were introduced in Congress.

Congress Passes FY 2012 Appropriations, Limits Funding for Energy Efficiency

Congress averted a government shutdown by approving an omnibus spending bill that funds DOE and other agencies for FY 2012. Some energy efficiency programs received increases, but Congress rescinded funding for lighting standards enforcement and dramatically cut the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Jan. 5, 2012 Update: New efficiency standards for incandescent light bulbs went into effect on Jan. 1, 2012. Despite the lack of federal funding to enforce the law, domestic lighting manufacturers are required to abide by it, and the overwhelming majority are doing so by producing more energy-efficient bulbs. 

FY 2012 Federal Energy Efficiency Programs Funding

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December 16, 2011

Chart of FY 2012 Federal Energy Efficiency Programs Funding, including December 2012 Omnibus

Final Appropriation (Millions of Dollars)

Program (chart only includes program highlights)1 FY10 Approp. FY11 CR Plan2 FY12 Request
Topics: Policy
Programs: Policy and Research Program
Resource Type: Federal Legislation

Alliance President Kateri Callahan's Statement on FY2012 Omnibus Spending Bill

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Date: 
December 16, 2011

“Today, Congress is voting to prohibit the Department of Energy from spending money to enforce a law that it ‘put on the books’ in 2007, namely technology-neutral, light bulb efficiency standards that can save Americans money and energy."

“Today, Congress is voting to prohibit the Department of Energy from spending money to enforce a law that it ‘put on the books’ in 2007, namely technology-neutral, light bulb efficiency standards that can save Americans money and energy.

Topics: Policy
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