WASHINGTON – The Alliance to Save Energy’s proposal to boost energy efficiency at small businesses has been named a top idea for democratizing energy efficiency by the Clean Economy Employment Now (CLEEN) Project.

The proposal – the inspiration for soon-to-be-released federal legislation led by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) – would provide federal matching funds for utility programs encouraging efficiency improvements at small businesses. It has been endorsed by more than 60 companies and organizations.

“We’re excited to see this proposal recognized among the hundreds of ideas that Congress and the Biden administration are considering,” said Alliance President Paula Glover. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and they have been the hardest hit from this pandemic, so helping them recover should be a top priority for everyone in Washington. This proposal would do that by reducing their energy expenses at little or no cost to the businesses, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and putting thousands of Americans back to work.”

The CLEEN Project has created a searchable database for promoting the leading, actionable ideas for addressing climate change, creating jobs, and advancing climate justice. The CLEEN Project was created through a collective of 300 contributors and 75 Advisory Board members from the private sector, federal and state government, environmental justice organizations, and leading climate think tanks.

On Tuesday, CLEEN named the small business proposal as a “top 3” idea for “Alleviating Energy Burdens: Ideas to Democratize Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.” Earlier, the CLEEN Project named the Alliance’s submission for modernizing and expanding energy efficiency tax incentives for homes and buildings as among its Top 10 “Budget Reconciliation Ideas to Create Millions of Jobs and Combat Climate Change.”

“We want to thank the CLEEN Project for their incredible work organizing and highlighting the best ideas for building back better,” Glover said.

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.

###