“The Bush Administration’s new fuel economy requirement for sport utility vehicles and light trucks amounts to a mere ‘drop in the barrel,’” according to Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow.

“We call on the Administration to do more.” The new standard calls for sport utility vehicles, light trucks, and minivans to increase fuel economy by 1.5 miles per gallon between 2005 and 2008.

Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-Maine), a strong voice for energy efficiency and bipartisanship in national policymaking, has been elected the new vice chair of the Alliance to Save Energy. The first woman to hold the office, she joins Alliance Chair Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Co-Chair Dean Langford, and prominent business, consumer, and environmental leaders in guiding the Alliance.

Senate Nearly Fails on Energy Efficiency

The Alliance to Save Energy today gave the U.S Senate a "D+" for making a "pitiful showing" on energy efficiency in its major energy bill (S. 517). By a vote of 52-47, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) which significantly weakened the bill's efficiency standards for central air conditioners.

The Alliance to Save Energy will launch a newspaper advertising campaign this Sunday, April 7, highlighting consumer savings from a key energy-efficiency provision in the Senate's landmark energy bill. The provision, which would raise air conditioner efficiency by 30 percent, could be debated as soon as April 9, when the Senate resumes debate on the bill (S. 517).

Just as the United Nations has sounded an alarm about the water crisis threatening two-thirds of the world's population — and with large portions of the U.S. facing drought conditions — the Alliance to Save Energy is releasing a report on the most energy-efficient and water-efficient ways to meet water needs. Watergy™: Taking Advantage of Untapped Energy and Water Efficiency Opportunities in Municipal Water Systems details energy-efficiency measures that are applicable worldwide, from U.S.

The Alliance to Save Energy today slammed the Senate's 62 to 38 vote today stripping major energy legislation of meaningful fuel economy standards and demanded that the bill (S. 517) not leave the Senate without addressing America's oil dependence.

"This is where the rubber meets the road. We commend the bipartisan agreement by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), John Kerry (D-MA), Fritz Hollings (D-SC), and others requiring passenger vehicle fleets to average 36 miles per gallon by 2015. Without such standards, the bill does little to lessen our country's growing oil dependence and protect national security.

The Alliance to Save Energy today commends President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget request for energy efficiency, noting that the administration has come a long way since last year's threatened 30 percent cuts in R&D. The proposed Department of Energy budget for energy-efficiency overall will remain roughly flat at $904.3 million, a 1 percent cut from current levels. The request for the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program will also remain relatively flat.

Statement by David M. Nemtzow, President, Alliance to Save Energy

“This legislation offers nice appetizers, but we await the main course."

“We commend Senators Daschle and Bingaman for their leadership in pulling together national energy legislation — legislation that, when complete, can play a vital role in strengthening America’s economy, national security, and environmental protection."

Statement by Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow on Passage of House Energy Policy Bill

“OPEC is back in the driver's seat — and the U.S. House of Representatives just gave them the keys. This imbalanced energy policy bill does virtually nothing to make our gas-guzzling nation more energy-efficient — thereby guaranteeing us a future of even more imported oil, pollution, and high fuel bills. It's now up to the Senate to address what the House has so forcefully neglected.