“I welcome my colleagues and our witnesses today to this hearing on four bills designed to strengthen the Department of Energy’s appliance efficiency program:
 
     *S. 1696, the Green Gaming Act of 2009;
     *S. 2908, the Water Heater Rating Improvement Act of 2009;
     *S. 3054, a bill to establish efficiency standards for water    dispensers, food holding cabinets, and electric spas; and
     *S. 3059, the National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010.  

“Energy efficiency continues to be the most cost-effective strategy for strengthening our nation’s economic and energy security, and for reducing the environmental impacts of energy production.  Moreover, the DOE appliance standards program remains one of the most powerful means available to the Federal government to achieve these efficiency benefits.  
 
“By 2020, this program will have reduced national electrical demand 12 percent below what it otherwise would be – all of the time saving American businesses and families billions of dollars.
 
“The bills being considered this morning would enhance the standards program by establishing or updating efficiency standards for major energy consuming products such as air conditioners, furnaces, and outdoor lighting, as well as several smaller product classes.  S. 3059 would also make several improvements to program operations.
 
“By 2030, it is estimated that the enhancements proposed in these bills would displace electricity equivalent to the output of 14 coal-fired power plants, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 39 million metric tons - equivalent to taking 7 million cars off the road for a year - save consumers an estimated $7 billion in reduced energy costs, and create tens of thousands of jobs as these savings are spent or invested in other ways.
 
“I thank the witnesses and others in the business and energy efficiency communities for their commitment and tenacity in negotiating the agreements that are included in these bills.  Our nation continues to face tremendous economic and energy security challenges and at a time when solutions may be frustrated by political factors, your working together for the common good is inspiring.
 
“I also thank Ranking Member Murkowski and several of our colleagues for their support in making this a truly bipartisan effort.  
 
“I look forward to working with her and our other colleagues to move these bills forward and to roll them into the comprehensive energy legislation reported by the Committee last year.   These enhancements would more than double the efficiency savings of last year’s bill, and would constitute the Committee’s strong response to the challenges of strengthening the economy, making American business more competitive, saving consumers money, and creating job opportunities.” 
 

#   #   #