Statement from Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan

“We were excited to hear the president tonight reaffirm his commitment to cutting America’s energy waste and increasing our nation’s energy security, specifically at the state and local levels. Cutting waste through energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to address our country’s economic and energy challenges raised by the president tonight. 

“We commend the president for stressing these efforts tonight, since the actions of states and cities across the country are imperative to creating lasting policies and programs at the national level. We know that local communities across the U.S. are where the rubber hits the road, so the Alliance has begun working in targeted states and local governments to cut energy waste through their own actions. Later this year, governors, mayors, and other stakeholders will stand side-by-side to demonstrate their commitment to the goal of doubling our nation’s energy productivity by 2030, embraced by the president in his 2013 State of the Union address when he challenged the country to “cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years.” The collective impact of these states and local governments taking action throughout America will be a critical step in reaching that goal.

“President Obama is taking the next step towards an energy secure future for America. We’ll be excited to aid the president’s call to action this year as we expand the scope of our Energy 2030 focus to engage states and cities in the 2030 goal so that the benefits of increased energy productivity will be seen across the nation. As was clear after last year’s groundbreaking address for efficiency, energy productivity will continue to be a key building block in achieving the president’s goal over the next three years.”