U.S. Senator Collins Testifies Before Senate Energy Committee

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Collins testified today before a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing to advocate for energy efficiency legislation that would lower energy consumption and save money. The Committee heard testimony on twenty-two bills related to improving energy efficiency, including Senator Collins’ legislation to streamline efficiency programs for schools.

Senator Collins began her testimony by emphasizing the importance of increasing energy efficiency, stating: “Encouraging the adoption of energy efficiency measures is one of the easiest yet most effective mechanisms for reducing energy consumption, lessening pollution, and ultimately saving families, businesses, communities, and all levels of government money.”

Specifically, Senator Collins spoke about bipartisan legislation that she has sponsored (S.523) with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). This legislation would lower energy costs for our nation’s schools by streamlining the already available federal energy efficiency programs and incentives.

“There are a number of federal initiatives already available to schools to help them become more efficient, but in many cases schools are not taking full advantage of these programs. We need to do a better job of allowing school officials to learn more easily what federal programs and incentives are available to improve efficiency and lower costs for our nation’s schools,” said Senator Collins. “By providing a streamlined coordinating structure — led by the Department of Energy — [this legislation] would help schools navigate available federal programs and financing without authorizing new programs or funding.”

Senator Collins also highlighted her co-sponsorship of two other important bipartisan energy efficiency bills, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, sponsored by Senators Portman (R-OH) and Shaheen (D-NH), and the Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act, sponsored by Senator Coons (D-DE), which also support efficient and cost effective energy use.