Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced bipartisan legislation that would lead to the manufacture and use of more energy efficient everyday appliances.  The measure is cosponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the committee's ranking member.

The bill aims to strengthen a 20-year Department of Energy's (DOE) initiative that establishes, updates and administers energy efficiency standards for over 33 consumer products – everything from dishwashers to ceiling fans.  The initiative has led to the use of more efficient appliances, and in the process save consumers money, strengthen the economy, and reduce greenhouse gases.  It is estimated that by 2020 the DOE initiative will reduce national electricity demand at least 15 percent below what it otherwise would have been.

But Bingaman would like to take additional steps to reduce energy consumption.  His National Energy Efficiency Enhancement Act of 2010 would lead to more energy efficient furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps and street lights – four appliances that consume a significant amount of energy each day.  The bill implements improved energy efficiency standards negotiated agreements by energy efficiency advocates and appliance manufacturers.

"Greater energy efficiency strengthens our economy, enhances our security, saves consumers money, creates jobs and reduces greenhouse gas pollution.  No single program or policy is going to completely end our nation's waste of energy or its carbon emissions, but increased energy efficiency through cost-effective energy standards for appliances and consumer products remains the single most-powerful tool for meeting these goals," Bingaman said.

Bingaman's bill would also change some of the ways the Secretary of Energy administers the program.  For example, there would be changes to the criteria the Secretary uses to set efficiency standards in order to include the impact of the new or updated standards on average energy prices, and on the use of new smart grid technology.

The bill builds on Bingaman's American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 (ACELA), which was approved by the Energy Committee last summer and awaits full Senate action.  Additional savings from this new bill are estimated at 260 trillion btus of energy by 2020 – the equivalent of about 45 million barrels of crude oil.  It is also estimated that the new bill will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14.7 million metric tons.