Before I talk about my bill, I just wanted to quickly say how much I’ve enjoyed and appreciated my time on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I’m genuinely going to miss it. Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Murkowski have both been enormously supportive, and I really appreciate their leadership, and the way they work together.
It continues to be my belief that energy efficiency is an area where this committee can make real progress, and can do it in a bipartisan way. I’ve been a believer in energy efficiency for a long time, and an enthusiastic advocate for it since my days as a county executive, so I leapt at the chance to support the work of Senators Shaheen and Portman during the last Congress. I’m proud to cosponsor it again during this Congress.
Shaheen-Portman receives the bulk of the attention in the energy efficiency space, and with good cause, but I’m glad, Senator Franken — Chairman Franken — that you’re holding this hearing today on the other good ideas in this area. There are a lot of them.
One of them I just introduced with Senators Collins of Maine and Reed of Rhode Island. It’s bipartisan and it’s named the Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act, or S. 1213. The bill reauthorizes two critical energy programs for five more years – the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program.
Both are programs that have been in place for decades and are at work daily in each and every one of our states. These programs link national, state and local interests together in a very critical way. They create highly effective public/private partnerships that have delivered real results.
For every dollar invested, the Weatherization Assistance Program returns $2.51 in household savings. The program has served more than 7 million families, including more than 1 million in the last four years.
The results are even more impressive for the State Energy Program, where for every federal dollar invested, there is an annual energy cost savings of more than $7, and nearly $11 in non-federal funds is leveraged.
Our bill isn’t just about reauthorization, it is also about modernization.
First, we wanted make sure we approached the programs in a fiscally appropriate way, so we’ve actually cut the authorizations by more than half from their 2007 authorization levels.
Second, there was some criticism over how a few states used the significantly increased Weatherization Assistance Program funds awarded under the Recovery Act. The vast majority of states used their funds effectively, but a few, frankly, did not. There wasn’t a set of national standards in place, so it became apparent that new minimum efficiency standards and certifications would be needed going forward. The Department of Energy is already working on some, and this bill requires that they be in place no later than October 2015. This will make sure these federal dollars are being spent more wisely and more efficiently.
Third, we’re proposing a complementary competitive grant program in which a wide range of NGOs could compete for a piece of the funding. The goal is to bring in new partners, new approaches, new technologies, and new ideas to ensure that more homes can be weatherized given limited federal funding.
All told, S.1213 supports the base programs, enhances them with new ideas, and ultimately ensures their long-term viability so they can keep making a difference in each of our states.
This bill has the support of 25 organizations that work day and night in the energy efficiency space, including some of the folks you’ll hear from on the next panel.
Thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. Although no longer a member of this committee, I look forward to continuing to work with you on measures to strengthen energy efficiency, innovation, and independence. Thanks.
###