Tom Eckman Testifies at Hearing on DOE Energy Efficiency Standards

Council power division director, Tom Eckman, testified on June 10 at a House Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing on the impacts of the Department of Energy's efficiency standards for home appliances.

The Obama administration's Climate Action Plan makes energy efficiency of appliances and buildings a key means to reducing 3 billion metric tons of CO2 by 2030. The DOE has already finalized energy conservation standards for 29 categories of appliances and equipment, as well as a building code determination for commercial buildings. These measures will also cut consumers' annual electricity bills by billions of dollars.

But some lawmakers oppose the efficiency rules. According to the Environment & Energy Daily, "Some members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have criticized DOE's rulemaking process as costly and bureaucratic."

Eckman made the case for energy efficiency standards as an effective and low-cost tool to not only reduce electricity consumption and consumers' bills, but also to reduce carbon emissions. His best example was the Northwest's success in acquiring energy efficiency, which is the region's second largest resource, annually reducing 22 million tons of carbon, and saving ratepayers about $3.78 billion for electricity.