WASHINGTON – The Alliance to Save Energy released the following statement from President Paula Glover in response to the House Committee on Energy & Commerce’s release of budget reconciliation bill text Friday:

“Since the pandemic began, there has been a clarion call by advocates to not miss this opportunity to take bold action and build back a better energy future. This is that bold action,” Alliance President Paula Glover said. “Provisions in this bill go a long way toward recognizing the foundational role that energy efficiency must play in meeting our 2030 climate targets while also alleviating the energy burdens that are a weight on too many families’ shoulders.”

The House Energy & Commerce committee was given $456 billion for its portion of the Build Back Better Act. The bill text released Friday for Monday’s markup features numerous Alliance priorities, including:

• $18 billion for appliance and building efficiency rebates, in line with the HOPE for HOMES Act, sponsored by Alliance Honorary Board Members Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W. Va.)
• $27.5 billion for nonprofit, state, and local climate finance institutions to support qualified projects and rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission technologies with more than 40% targeted to low-income and disadvantaged communities, similar to the Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act
• $17.5 billion for green federal procurement to decarbonize federal buildings and fleets
• $13.5 billion for electric vehicle infrastructure, including for construction in underserved areas, and $5 billion for clean heavy-duty vehicle deployment
• $7 billion for clean energy innovation and communities through Department of Energy grant and loan programs
• $3.2 billion for critical facility modernization, including energy efficiency and resiliency improvements, as a portion of what is envisioned in the Open Back Better Act
• $4 billion for expanding broadband access through the Emergency Connectivity Fund
• $3.5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program

“While the committee’s proposal is not yet final, we support its substantive wins for energy efficiency and look forward to working with the committee to secure additional efficiency priorities as America builds back better. We want to thank Energy & Commerce its leadership in turning words into action for a more equitable and efficient energy system,” 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.

###