Hot off the presses from our friends at ACEEE
We are encouraged by Congress’s show of support for ENERGY STAR, the popular efficiency certification program. The Republican-led appropriations committees in both the House and the Senate recently advanced spending bills that would maintain roughly the same level of funding for the program in the coming fiscal year.
Most years, this wouldn’t be notable—ENERGY STAR has enjoyed bipartisan support for decades. But it follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan from the spring to scrap the program, which prompted pushback from a wide range of businesses and organizations. EPA has not yet resolved the future of the program, and Congress may never pass a final appropriations bill this year; however, the strong congressional support is a very positive step.
While it’s a welcome development for one critical efficiency program, several others face deep cuts by the agencies and under the House committee’s plan (the Senate numbers are much stronger).
Thank you, as always, for your interest in our work.