WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Susan Collins has joined colleagues in a renewed push for a national energy efficiency strategy by cosponsoring an updated version of the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC). The legislation has received widespread support from Democrats and Republicans as well as industry leaders, energy-efficiency advocates and environmental stakeholders because it would reduce pollution, save consumers money and create jobs.
This legislation, authored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), includes provisions authored by Senator Collins that would require the Department of Energy to coordinate and provide technical assistance to support energy efficient retrofits and renewable energy installations in schools. In addition, it would establish a demonstration program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development using energy savings contracts to perform efficiency retrofits on low-income housing.
"Our bipartisan bill address our nation's overreliance on fossil fuels while also opening the door to vibrant economic growth," said Senator Collins. "Energy efficient investments will not only help conservation efforts, but it will also help save money and create jobs."
This legislation uses a variety of low-cost tools to help energy users become more efficient while making the country's largest energy user - the federal government - reduce its energy use through the use of energy-efficient technology. The deficit neutral bill incentivizes the use of efficiency technologies that are commercially available today, can be widely deployed across the country, and quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. It would help the United States transition to a more energy-efficient economy while driving economic growth and private sector job creation.
A study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that this legislation would create more than 190,000 jobs, save consumers $16.2 billion a year, and cut CO2 emissions and other air pollutants by the equivalent of taking 22 million cars off the road - all by 2030.