The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell:
We write to request that the Senate return to The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 (ESIC) in January of next year.
This sensible, bi-partisan legislation enjoys broad support from business, environmental groups, and energy efficiency advocates. The bill’s sponsors have worked with this diverse group of stakeholders every step of the way in crafting and vetting this legislation. ESIC places no new mandates on U.S. businesses or consumers. All new authorizations are fully offset.
Energy costs money and ESIC will save consumers both. Provisions in this legislation will promote energy savings in commercial buildings and industrial facilities, which together consume nearly 50 percent of the nation’s primary energy.
The bill will also reduce energy costs within the federal government, our nation’s largest energy consumer, saving taxpayers money.
Reducing barriers to investment in existing energy efficiency technologies, as ESIC does, spurs innovation; improves building energy efficiency; and, boosts the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and creates jobs in the manufacturing, contracting, installation, distribution, and service sectors.
And quite simply, greater use of technologies that reduce energy consumption improves our country’s energy security.
For these reasons, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources roundly endorsed the legislation with a strong bipartisan vote.
With the Senate’s leadership ESIC can serve as a model of how Congress can still bridge the partisan divide to deliver results.
As supporters of this legislation, we ask that the Senate return to work on ESIC early next year.
Alliance to Save Energy
American Chemistry Council
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
National Association of Manufacturers
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
The Real Estate Round Table
U.S. Chamber of Commerce