SHAHEEN MEETS WITH NASHUA CITY OFFICALS TO DISCUSS ENERGY EFFICIENCY

(Nashua, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) met today with Nashua Mayor Donalee Lozeau and city officials to hear their about efforts to become more energy efficient and discuss Shaheen’s bipartisan energy efficiency legislation, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

The city of Nashua has already realized energy savings at Nashua City Hall by adopting energy efficient technologies. Since December of 2010, the city of Nashua has reduced its energy costs by installing 116 new windows, a new roof with added insulation and a modern HVAC system in city hall. Early estimates show that these upgrades have cut the building’s energy costs by 20 percent.

“Nashua City Hall serves as a great example of how investing in off-the-shelf and commercially available technologies can provide real energy savings to local governments,” said Shaheen, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. “With businesses and consumers facing real concerns over rising energy prices, energy efficiency is an effective, affordable way to reduce our energy needs and help businesses create jobs. My bill would build on the success of projects like this one in Nashua and expand energy efficiency opportunities across the country.”

“Nashua has been able to do some great things with the help of federal energy funds,” said Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau. “Whether you are a single family homeowner or a business leader, energy efficient technology makes it possible to cut costs and reduce your energy output.”

Shaheen’s bill would promote retrofit projects like the ones at Nashua city hall by making it easier for local governments and businesses to finance energy upgrades.

Some highlights of the legislation include: 

• Boosts private sector investment in building efficiency upgrades. 
• Assists manufacturers in reducing energy use and becoming more competitive by establishing a state-based revolving financing program to help facilitate efficiency upgrades. 
• Works with states to strengthen voluntary national model building codes, to make new homes and commercial buildings more energy efficient.
• Requires the federal government – the single largest energy user in the country – to adopt energy saving techniques for computers, better building standards, and smart metering technology.

Introduced with Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the legislation passed out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with a bipartisan vote of 18-3. The bill has garnered national support from more than 175 businesses, trade associations and efficiency advocates. The nation’s largest business and industrial trade groups – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers – have endorsed the bill and recently joined Shaheen and Portman in calling on Senate leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote this year.