U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS SHAHEEN-PORTMAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEGISLATION

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses and organizations, is urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to take up the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 1000), authored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and  Rob Portman (R-OH). The Shaheen-Portman bill would establish an energy efficiency strategy to increase the use of existing energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of our economy.

“S. 1000 is a smart, practical, bipartisan bill that would boost competitiveness and create jobs by increasing the adoption of energy efficient technologies in residential, commercial and industrial sectors,” Chamber Executive Vice President Bruce Josten wrote. “The business community strongly supports this bill.  The Chamber urges you to find a way to bring S. 1000 to the Senate floor for a vote.”

Introduced last May, the legislation has garnered national support from nearly 150 businesses, trade associations, and efficiency advocates. 

In September, S. 1000 passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 18 to 3.  Representatives Charles Bass (R-New Hampshire) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) recently introduced similar legislation, the Smart Energy Act, in the House of Representatives.