Washington, D.C., February 9, 2006 – Finding the Bush Administration’s FY 2007 federal budget request out of sync with its rhetoric about weaning the nation off its oil addiction – and with the urgent need to address record energy costs and related security and environmental concerns – the Alliance to Save Energy has joined a broad-based effort to restore funds for key energy-efficiency programs at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.

In addition to the Alliance, the coalition consists of more than 40 companies, trade associations, environmental and energy-efficiency organizations, state and local government agencies, and consumer advocates.

“The only way to ease the pain of record energy prices for consumers and businesses alike, and to address critical energy-related security and environmental issues, is to back up the rhetoric with the reality of adequate federal funding for key energy-efficiency programs,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “An army of defenders of energy efficiency programs has come together to tell Congress and the administration that now is the time to invest more, not less, in technologies and practices that promise the quickest, cleanest and cheapest means of addressing tight energy supplies and extraordinarily high prices.”

In a statement to be delivered to members of Congress today, the coalition points out that the funding proposed for energy-efficiency programs in FY 2007 “is one-third lower than the inflation-adjusted budget for these same programs in fiscal year 2002.”

The statement continues, “At a time of record high natural gas and oil prices, the administration has proposed to cut funds to vital programs that cut pollution and save energy (Energy Star and Building Codes Assistance); help the federal government save energy and tax dollars (Federal Energy Management Program); and help low-income residents save energy so they can afford their utility bills (Weatherization Program).”