A Statement From Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan

"If there is one thing lawmakers from both sides of the aisle can agree upon, it’s that energy efficiency is a good thing. It’s good for our economy, good for consumers and businesses and good for our environment. Working until the early hours of the morning, the Senate today unanimously passed S. 535, a small but important package  projected to yield roughly $4.6 billion in annual energy savings by 2030, all while creating new jobs and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, these benefits will be realized with little cost to taxpayers and no government mandates.

"S. 535 will deliver these benefits to America by reducing energy use from the built environment, which is the largest-consuming energy sector in our economy; encouraging energy efficiency practices in leased spaces; allowing the use of grid-enabled water heaters for demand response programs and spurring the benchmarking of energy usage in commercial buildings.

"The Alliance applauds the tireless commitment of the bill’s sponsors, our Honorary Chair Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Vice-Chair Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) who have fought for months for the passage of this bill. A similar bill passed through the House last year with well over two thirds voting in favor. The Alliance has high hopes that our nation’s leaders will now take this bill all the way to the President’s desk. 

"As we look forward to potential comprehensive energy legislation, the Alliance believes the passage of S. 535 marks the start of a season of bipartisan cooperation on energy efficiency policies that will strengthen the U.S. economy, create jobs, enhance our environment and increase our energy security."