Diverse coalition of organizations calls upon the Congress and next President to make energy efficiency a national priority
For immediate release:
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC-Today more than thirty groups, ranging from the AFL-CIO to The Real Estate Roundtable, issued a call to action for the federal government and states to make energy efficiency a frontline approach to addressing energy supply constraints and reducing global warming emissions. As early as today Congress could start voting on drilling and alternative energy proposals, which include efficiency provisions.
The broad-based group of industry and financial leaders, state treasurers, environmental groups and energy policy advocates urged the government to greatly ramp up its commitment to energy efficiency measures. Among additional priorities, the group called for:
- Governors and state leaders to prioritize efficiency and allow it to compete with power generation;
- The next President to appoint a National Energy Efficiency Advocate;
- The Congress to establish worker training programs; and,
- And both the next President and Congress to remake the regulatory and financial incentive landscape in order to make the United States a worldwide leader in efficiency technologies.
Specifically, the statement declares that "[r]apid adoption of policies and programs that drive greater energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industries, and government facilities will make electricity more affordable and reliable, enhance our standard of living, create new jobs, and protect the environment." The statement concludes that "[a]n effective strategy to spur investment in energy efficiency, involving the private sector and government, including regulatory agencies, would reap large energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and serve as an engine for economic development, creating millions of new jobs."
Supporters pledged to "work with Governors, Congress, the Administration, regulatory commissions, and other partners to advance this agenda and to participate in projects that demonstrate the business case for energy efficiency and accelerate its market penetration." Collectively, the supporting organizations represent millions of people - customers, workers and investors - as well as hundreds of billions of dollars in financial holdings.
The call to action and complete roster of supporting organizations can be found below, and at: www.energyfuturecoalition.org.
The groups committed to the energy efficiency call to action were recruited by the Energy Future Coalition and its partner organizations. Reid Detchon, its executive director, said that "energy efficiency is the closest policy option to a silver bullet that we have. It can be deployed in short order, across wide fleets, delivers savings to consumers, profits to businesses and relief to our climate." Detchon added that "powering economic growth isn't about how much energy we produce, but how wisely we apply it. When it comes to 21st century approaches to energy, doing more with less ought to be a guiding principle."
"Energy efficiency is a critical component of our efforts to meet electricity demand growth, while helping consumers manage energy costs and addressing greenhouse gas emissions," said EEI president Tom Kuhn. "Significant efficiency improvements already are underway, and even greater gains are possible if consumers are active partners and regulatory and other barriers can be overcome. While we still will need to add significant new generating capacity in order to meet the demands of the economy and a growing population, energy efficiency can help to offset some of that demand. Energy efficiency- along with a full portfolio of technology options - is key to addressing climate change concerns."
"Investing in energy efficiency is a win-win solution that could save consumers billions, promote America's energy independence, and generate stable, low-risk returns for investors," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the $7 trillion Investor Network on Climate Risk. "But investors need a strong, national commitment to energy efficiency to overcome persistent barriers and
to realize this opportunity."
"USGBC represents 18,000 member organizations who have made green, energy efficient new and existing buildings and urgent imperative. Dramatically improving building performance is possible, is proven, and must be made a priority to meet our energy needs, preserve our climate, and support our economy," said Michelle Moore, senior vice president, U.S. Green Building Council.
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BACKGROUND
The Energy Future Coalition is a broad-based, non-partisan alliance that seeks to bridge the differences among business, labor, and environmental groups and identify energy policy options with broad political support. The coalition aims to bring about changes in U.S. energy policy to address the economic, security and environmental challenges related to the production and use of fossil fuels with
a compelling new vision of the economic opportunities that will be created by the transition to a new energy economy.
Reid Detchon is Executive Director of the Climate and Energy program at the United Nations Foundation, in addition to his capacity as Executive Director of the Energy Future Coalition.
Energy Efficiency is a National Priority
A concerted national commitment to energy efficiency is urgently needed to meet the challenge of today's energy crisis and address global climate change. Energy efficiency is a fast and low-cost way to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Rapid adoption of policies and programs that drive greater energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industries, and government facilities will make electricity more affordable and reliable, enhance our standard of living, create new jobs, and protect the environment.
We, the undersigned, support the rapid adoption of public policy initiatives to increase the energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings, power generation and distribution systems, appliances, and industrial processes. If regulatory barriers and other impediments are removed, energy efficiency is capable of meeting up to 50 percent of new electricity demand over the coming decades, according to the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, an initiative of more than 50 regulatory commissions, utilities, environmental groups, and businesses. The Action Plan estimates that energy efficiency can reduce U.S. electricity consumption by up to 1 percent per year over projected demand, and some states are achieving even higher savings. At half the cost of adding new generation, increased efficiency can save consumers $100 billion a year on their energy bills by 2025, according to the Action Plan.
An effective strategy to spur investment in energy efficiency, involving the private sector and government, including regulatory agencies, would reap large energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and serve as an engine for economic development, creating millions of new jobs.
At the state level, regulations that compensate utility companies only on the basis of their kilowatt-hour sales discourage investment in efficiency measures and thus fail to treat energy efficiency on an equal footing with power generation. At the federal level, coherent tax, regulatory, and workforce policies are needed to promote investment in energy efficiency technology and its application in commercial and residential markets.
Therefore, we urge that energy efficiency be deemed the essential starting point in meeting demand for additional U.S. power supply and call on:
- Governors, state officials, and mayors to ensure that energy planning processes prioritize efficiency as a resource, and at a minimum reward investments in energy efficiency and new generation equally;
- The President and Congress to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency to make energy efficiency a priority energy resource;
- The President to appoint a National Energy Efficiency Advocate to drive efficiency gains across all sectors of the U.S. economy, including the Federal government;
- The President and Congress to enact a comprehensive program of education, skill development, and worker placement that can help governments, businesses, efficiency providers, and unions ensure that a highly skilled work force is available to implement wide-scale energy efficiency measures;
- The President and Congress to create policies and programs that encourage the rapid development and deployment of new energy efficient technologies and systems, and that leverage the necessary private investment to position the United States as a global leader in the manufacture and installation of such technologies; and
- The President and Congress to establish tax incentives, with comparable incentives for public entities, and disclosure requirements that encourage financial markets to recognize the aggregate value of efficiency investments and deploy private-sector capital accordingly.
We pledge to work with Governors, Congress, the Administration, regulatory commissions, and other partners to advance this agenda and to participate in projects that demonstrate the business case for energy efficiency and accelerate its market penetration.
Endorser List
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
AFL-CIO
Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions
Alliance to Save Energy
Allianz of America
State of California Controller
California Public Employees' Retirement System
California State Teachers' Retirement System
State of California Treasurer
Center for American Progress
Ceres
Con Edison
Copper Development Association
The Dow Chemical Company
Duke Energy
Edison Electric Institute
Energy Future Coalition
Green for All
International City/County Management Association
Jones Lang LaSalle
Large Public Power Council
State of Maryland Treasurer
National Grid
National Wildlife Federation
New Jersey State Investment Council
New Jersey Division of Investment
New York City Comptroller
PG&E Corporation
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
The Real Estate Roundtable
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Steel Manufacturers Association
Trigen, a Veolia Energy Company
US Energy Association
U.S. Green Building Council
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