Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014: A Bipartisan Energy Efficient Effort for Government, Industry, and Buildings

The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014 (ESICA), introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), is a bipartisan effort to increase energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and the federal government. The broadly supported goals are to save taxpayer dollars, promote job growth, and cut carbon pollution by increasing investments in energy efficient buildings and technologies.

Importantly, ESICA was developed through extensive review by a broad group of stakeholders and is the product of a painstaking four year process to design a non-controversial yet meaningful bill. That is one reason that ESICA has received such wide support. Unfortunately, to date the bill has been stymied by unrelated, controversial amendments. It's time to take delivery on the bill sponsors' hard work and check such extreme amendments at the door so that we can begin implementing important efficiency gains that would benefit all Americans.

This NRDC analysis details how ESICA would benefit consumers and the environment.