Statement on Recent Energy and Efficiency Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C—In response to the Obama Administration’s announcements on fuel efficiency and combined heat and power, Members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) released the following statement:

“SEEC enthusiastically applauds the recent energy and efficiency efforts announced by the Obama Administration.

Earlier this week, the Administration—working with auto industry leaders and the environmental community—finalized historic fuel efficiency standards for cars and light-duty trucks. These standards will double the efficiency of cars on the road today, to 54.5 miles per hour by 2025. By achieving this benchmark, Americans will save more than $1.7 trillion at the pump while cutting overall oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day and making critical reductions in the emissions that pollute our air and harm public health. This is a monumental accomplishment that has incorporated feedback from all the key stakeholders – consumers, industry, auto workers, the environmental community, energy experts and states.

Yesterday, the Administration took yet another positive step to improve our country’s energy consumption by establishing industrial efficiency goals with an Executive Order. These goals will be driven through further implementation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems by setting a national goal of 40 GW of new CHP by 2020, a 50 percent improvement from today. CHP technologies take the heat generated by boilers and other industrial processes—heat that is otherwise wasted—and recycles it to provide further heat or electricity. Improving industrial processes through CHP will not only help the industry cut energy costs, but it will reduce the toxins emitted into nearby communities. By spurring companies to save on energy costs, they will have more resources for hiring more workers and supporting economic growth. Many large facilities such as hospitals and universities employ this technology; in fact, CHP already provides 10 percent our country’s electricity. It is a common sense process that ensures Americans get the most out of our energy generation. We are greatly encouraged by this announcement.

Both of these initiatives will help to move our country down the path toward a clean and sustainable energy future. SEEC looks forward to working with the President to continue providing Americans with more sensible and long-term energy solutions that safeguard our environment while strengthening the economy.”