Crapo shepherds legislation that aims to boost energy efficiency

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) spoke at the Intermountain Energy Summit on Tuesday in Idaho Falls, in the wake of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's approval of the Energy Policy Modernization Act (EPMA).

Part of the bill includes a measure that was originally introduced as a stand-alone bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Act, which would direct the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to assess capabilities to host and authorize prototype reactors funded by private entities at DOE sites.

Also included is a bipartisan amendment that was introduced by Crapo and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) that would direct the DOE to conduct a study to determine the cost savings from energy-efficiency technologies. Crapo said this would allow building owners and manufacturers to monitor energy usage to help ensure operational efficiency.

“Increasing our nation’s energy efficiency must remain a priority,” Crapo said. “This measure, without creating any new programs or spending any new federal dollars, would encourage the public and private adoption of energy-efficiency technologies, saving money for both the federal government and the private sector.”

Crapo said nuclear energy will play a key role in the long-term energy plan for the nation and added that innovation in nuclear energy and the research associated with its development need to be supported.