A Statement from Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan

“The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today that represents a setback for energy efficiency policy at the federal, state and local levels. I am disappointed by the outcome of today’s vote because of costly provisions in H.R. 8. I am also frustrated by the House’s interest in passing legislation backed only by members in the majority while not considering energy efficiency bills with strong bipartisan appeal such as H.R. 2177, the Energy Independence and Industrial Competitiveness Act, introduced by Alliance to Save Energy Honorary Board members David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). 

“While the Alliance recognizes that some provisions in H.R. 8 would deliver benefits, any such savings would be completely eclipsed by the costs of the bill’s negative impact on building energy codes. The built environment is the largest energy consuming sector of the U.S. economy. Building energy codes have been a critical driver of efficiency improvements in homes and commercial buildings across the country. The building energy codes provisions in H.R. 8 would prevent the continuance of locally-driven processes now in place for the development and adoption of building energy codes. The net cost of these energy efficiency provisions in H.R. 8 would be a staggering $20 billion. These costs will burden consumers and businesses, and each dollar represents energy waste that could be avoided. 

“There is still time in the 114^th Congress for beneficial energy legislation such as H.R. 2177 – and its Senate counterpart, S. 720 – to be considered. I respectfully urge the House and Senate to take up bipartisan energy efficiency legislation at the earliest opportunity in 2016. The Alliance is ready to support that effort.”