WASHINGTON—The Alliance to Save Energy released the following statement from President Jason Hartke regarding the Senate Appropriations Committee’s energy and water development spending bill, which was approved by the committee Thursday and further detailed in a committee report posted Friday:

“We’re encouraged to see Senators taking a strong lead here in embracing investments in energy efficiency.”

“The unanimous committee vote on this bill reflects the bipartisan recognition that these investments have a real impact in generating economic activity across the country and in creating a more productive, competitive economy. An energy-efficient manufacturing sector, for example, is a more competitive manufacturing sector. It’s also more sustainable, with lower greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We’re also pleased that the committee included clear report language directing the Department of Energy to focus not only on the research side, which is very important, but also in development and deployment. That’s critical in making sure that these technologies get out of the lab and into the economy to drive efficiency.”

“We particularly thank Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Energy-Water Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Alliance’s Honorary Board of Advisors, as well as Alliance Honorary Chair Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Honorary Advisors Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for their leadership in developing and advancing this bill in a bipartisan fashion."

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s report on the energy and water appropriations bill calls for increasing funding for the following energy efficiency programs within the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Advanced Manufacturing Office (19%), Building Technologies Office (33%), Federal Energy Management Program (50%), Vehicle Technologies Office (19%), and Weatherization Assistance Program (18%). The report calls for level funding for the State Energy Program. The report also calls for increased funding for other critical programs including ARPA-E (17%) and the Energy Information Administration (6%).

About the Alliance to Save Energy

Founded in 1977, the Alliance to Save Energy is a nonprofit, bipartisan alliance of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders working to expand the economy while using less energy. Our mission is to promote energy productivity worldwide – including through energy efficiency – to achieve a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security, affordability and reliability.

###