Baldwin Lauds Passage of Historic Energy Legislation

Press Release

Baldwin Lauds Passage of Historic Energy Legislation

Landmark Package Reduces Global Warming and Dependence on Foreign Oil

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today joined a bipartisan majority in the House (235-181) to pass a sweeping measure, the Energy Independence and Security Act, (Senate Amendments to H.R. 6) to put the U.S. on a path toward energy independence. The legislation, which Baldwin helped shape from her seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, will strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, lower energy costs, grow the economy, create new jobs, and begin to address global warming.

"This is truly historic legislation and I'm proud to have played a part in its creation," said Baldwin. "We have responded to the wishes of the American people to address the rising costs of, and our dependence on, foreign oil as well as the very real threat of global warming. And we've accomplished this by bringing together automakers, environmentalists, and consumer advocates who've worked with Congress for the common good. This is a great victory for our national security, our environment, and our economy," Baldwin said.

Energy efficiency provisions in this bill, when fully implemented, will remove from the atmosphere carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to those emitted from all cars currently on the road.

The cornerstone of the Energy Independence and Security Act increases the fuel efficiency of vehicles (CAFE standards) to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This is the first increase in a generation and is supported by environmentalists, labor groups, and the automobile industry. This provision will save American families $700 to $1,000 per year at the pump. An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists reports that, in Wisconsin, this provision would create 3,000 jobs.

The bill requires, for the first time nationally, that 15 percent of our electricity come from renewable sources, saving consumers in Wisconsin from $120 million to $280 million in 2020. (The renewable electricity standard is also known as a renewable portfolio standard or RPS.)

As a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy subcommittee, Congresswoman Baldwin played a key role in crafting this legislation. In addition to shaping the broad provisions of the bill, Baldwin added language to increase industrial and home energy efficiency standards, encourage advanced battery and plug-in hybrid programs, minimize exposure to mercury in energy efficient light bulbs, and study the adequacy of railroad transportation for renewable fuels. Baldwin's efforts were supported by industry, environmental, and consumer groups.

"Representative Baldwin has played a leading role in developing several key energy efficiency provisions in the bill the House passed today," said Steven Nadel, Executive Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. "Rep. Baldwin took the lead in developing provisions to improve the efficiency of external power supplies and reduce standby power use of home appliances. She also played a critical role in bringing new efficiency standards for walk-in refrigerators and freezers and specific types of commercial lighting fixtures into the bill. Taken together, we estimate these provisions will reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2030 by 20 million metric tons, equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 5 million passenger vehicles. We very much appreciate her efforts," Nadel said.

Baldwin successfully led challenging negotiations between appliance manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates to secure broad support for her requirement that standby power be considered as an element of energy efficiency standards.

Although a typical appliance operating in standby mode draws only a small amount of power, the total amount of energy wasted is sizable. In fact, standby mode accounts for approximately 10% of household power consumption.

Baldwin sought to ensure that an additional analysis be conducted of a product's energy use while in standby mode, and in turn, encourage manufacturers to use the lowest standby power level possible.

Baldwin's efforts to improve appliance energy efficiency standards were widely applauded. "We are especially pleased to support Congresswoman Baldwin's proposal to address the standby power usage of federally-covered products. This approach will ensure that appliances and electronics products operate at high efficiencies while providing manufacturers with the ability to maximize innovation for product functionality and consumer preference. In recognizing the globalization of appliance and electronics product design and manufacture, Congresswoman Baldwin took pains to reference important international standards activities and this legislation should serve as a model for other countries addressing standby power," said Joseph McGuire, President, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Steven Nadel, Executive Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association, Rhett Dawson, President and CEO, Information Technology Industry Council, Kyle Pitsor, Vice-President, National Electrical Manufacturers' Association, and Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy.

Praising Baldwin's leadership in addressing railroad shipments of renewable fuels, Bob Szabo, Executive Director and Counsel, Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE) said, "Railroad transportation is enormously important to the national energy picture. We were very pleased that Congresswoman Baldwin prevailed, against concerted railroad opposition, to obtain legislation that will give us more information about problems in this area."

In preparation for the drafting of this legislation, Baldwin consulted experts at the UW-Madison, Wisconsin businesses, public utilities, and environmental groups. She said, "Efforts to address energy independence and global warming at the federal level are long overdue, drastically needed, and vital to our national security, our economy, and our environment. I envisioned this legislation as a critical opportunity to reduce our energy use, invest in our future, and prepare for a post-petroleum economy. While there is much work that lies ahead, this bill takes important and necessary first steps that move us in the right direction."

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