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AMERICAN PUBLIC Er TM ASSOCIATION Powering Strong Communities ISSUE BRIEF January 2017 Energy Efficiency Summary Energy Security and Infrastructure Act,that passed the House Energy efficiency—the ability to maximize energy use via more on December 8,2015.Ultimately,these provisions did not efficient technologies throughout the electric utility system,as become law because the energy bill conference committee could well as for electric customers to minimize their energy use by not reach an agreement on a final bill. using a variety of tools,technologies,and behaviors—is one of Also in the 114th Congress,APPA joined with over 20 trade the most important,cost-saving tools available to utilities to associations,businesses,manufacturers,and other stakeholders in a letter to senators on the Senate Energy&Natural Resources meet energy demand,defer generation investment,and reduce Committee urging them to support S. 869,the All-of-the-Above greenhouse gas and other emissions.The federal government creates incentives for energy efficiency through the tax code, Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2015.This legisla- appropriations bills,and authorizing bills.The American Public tion was also included in S.720 and S.2012 that were approved Power Association(Association or APPA)provides tools and by the Senate Energy&Natural Resources Committee in July 2015.S. 869 and its companion bill in the House,H.R.2177, support for our public power members to deploy energy effi- ciency measures at their utilities,and is generally supportive of sought to improve federal energy use management by provid federal efforts to encourage and support such activities so long ing taxpayers with savings by enhancing efficiency in federal as they are cost-effective for consumers and have a reasonable buildings.In addition,the language repealed a requirement payback period. from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007(EISA) regarding the reduction and eventual elimination of fossil-fuel generated energy consumption in new and renovated federal Congressional Action buildings.Due to the unrealistic nature of this provision from Several energy efficiency measures were considered in the 114th EISA,the government has been unable to find a long-term path Congress. On February 23,2015,Senators Rob Portman(R- to compliance.These provisions would also have strengthen OH)and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced a scaled-down several existing federal energy management provisions that pro- version of their larger energy efficiency bill from the 113th Con- vide federal building energy managers the flexibility to achieve gress.The scaled-down legislation,S. 535,the Energy Efficiency cost-efficient reductions in consumption and encourage efficient Improvement Act was comprised of three major provisions: (1) technologies and practices,as well as retrofits of federal build the Better Buildings Act; (2)language on grid-enabled water ings.The Association strongly supported these measures. heaters;and(3)language on energy information for commercial Additionally,on June 25,2015,APPA joined the same stake- buildings. It passed unanimously by voice vote in the House holders from the April 29,2015,letter,in a letter to members and Senate in the spring of 2015,and was signed into law by of the House Energy&Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy&Power urging them to include these provisions in President Obama on April 30,2015. In addition,in March 2015,Senators Portman and Shaheen H.R. 8.These provisions were included in the House energy bill introduced their larger efficiency package,S.720,the Energy as Sections 4115 and 4116. Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2015.A com- panion bill to S.720 was introduced in the House,H.R.2177, by Reps. David McKinley(R-WV)and Peter Welch(D-VT). American Public Power Association Position The Association strongly supports legislation to improve energy Many of the provisions in this legislation were included in S. 2012,the Energy Policy Modernization Act,which passed the efficiency in multiple sectors.Many of our members have already taken steps either through the use of federal incentives, Senate on April 20,2016,and H.R. 8,the North American PublicPower.org 47 229