U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) renewed their effort on Wednesday to develop a national energy efficiency strategy.
Their plan includes a revised version of the original Portman-Shaheen Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC). The legislation has received bipartisan support.
Politicians, energy-efficiency advocates, environmentalists and industry leaders want the strategy approved and implemented because it aims to create jobs, decrease pollution and save money for consumers.
“This bill has garnered such widespread support because of a simple fact — it is good for the economy and good for the environment,” Portman said. “By establishing a national energy strategy, we can create jobs, save taxpayers billions, make manufacturers more competitive and protect the environment. Our bill is the equivalent of taking 37 million homes off the grid, and I look forward to renewing our efforts to promote this common-sense legislation.”
The legislation includes a number of low-cost tools to encourage energy efficiency. It also makes the federal government -- the country’s largest energy user — reduce its energy use via energy-efficient technology.
"Energy efficiency is the cheapest and fastest way to address our energy challenges,” Shaheen said. “Our bipartisan bill will create jobs, save consumers billions, and drastically reduce pollution in a smart, effective and affordable way — that’s why it enjoys broad bipartisan support. A vote to pass our legislation is long overdue, and I hope the overwhelming support behind this bill will help carry it through the Senate.”
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