Policy

Statement by Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow

"Today the House of Representatives will vote on the most important energy efficiency measure to come before Congress since the 1980s — an increase in the nation's fuel efficiency standards that would reduce U.S. oil consumption by up to 1 million barrels a day in 2010. Fuel economy is now at its lowest point since 1980.

Alliance to Save Energy applauds the energy efficiency provisions included in the 'Energy Policy Act of 2001' set to go before the Ways and Means Committee today.

As the Energy and Commerce Committee meets to mark-up the Barton bill, the Alliance to Save Energy notes that the efficiency provisions within this bill are incomplete.

"Increasing energy efficiency must be at the cornerstone of any comprehensive energy legislation. As it stands, the Barton bill fails to provide meaningful action to promote energy efficiency," states Alliance President David M. Nemtzow. "Unless enhanced significantly during the legislative process, this bill will do little to help the U.S. improve its energy efficiency."

In an Associated Press story about the winners and losers in the Bush Administration energy plan, the wire service last week listed energy efficiency and the Alliance to Save Energy as the number one loser.

"Not so," says Alliance President David M. Nemtzow. "This is one time the venerated wire service got it wrong."

Who's the real #1 loser? "The American people," responds Nemtzow. "

"We are very pleased that the Administration has decided to support the standards for clothes washers and water heaters."

Cuts in Clean Energy Could Not Come at a Worse Time

The Administration's proposal to cut energy efficiency R&D by more than 30 percent - even as they declare an 'energy crisis' - could not come at a worst time for American consumers and businesses. Faced with sky-high heating bills, increased gasoline prices, and new prospects for electricity shortages, the nation needs to invest more heavily in energy efficiency, which remains the cheapest, quickest and cleanest way to lessen energy problems and extend energy supplies.

Drilling Our Way Out of Crisis Is 'Pipe Dream'

As some media are reporting planned cuts to the Department of Energy budget, the Alliance to Save Energy will be watching to see if the energy rhetoric in President George W. Bush's 'Blue Print for New Beginnings' address to the joint session of Congress tonight is backed by Administration budget support this spring.

A Nod to Efficiency, a Deep Bow to Energy Production

"For a nation struggling to address the high cost of energy, the Republican energy bill offers little relief. Good energy policy must balance increasing supply with decreasing demand. Rather than maximizing the efficient use of energy - our nation's cheapest, cleanest and most accessible energy source - this imbalanced bill gives a gentle nod to efficiency, but makes a deep bow to expensive and exotic energy production.

New York Increases Public Benefits Funding

As California deals with Stage Three energy alerts and rolling blackouts and the rest of the nation copes with higher energy prices, the Alliance to Save Energy credits New York State for its farsighted decision to double its support for energy efficiency and other forms of clean energy. While several states have renewed their public benefits support for clean energy, none has increased its commitment at this funding level.

Proposal Is a Step Forward but Not Enough, Says Coalition, Urging Sec. Richardson to Improve Final Standard

Following a summer of electricity reliability problems and blackouts in a number of states, a coalition of consumer and environmental groups, state government, and utilities praised the Clinton Administration for proposing new air conditioner and heat pump energy-efficiency standards today but said they fall short.