Mayors hail Energy Efficiency Promotion Act
The Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is hailing the introduction of the Energy Efficiency Promotion Act in the U.S. Senate. The act, which aims to save 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 17 trillion Btu of natural gas annually, includes extra grant money to support local energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
USCM President and Trenton, N.J., Mayor Douglas Palmer worked with Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to create the act. “This is the first time Congress has acted directly in response to the calls from mayors to support our local efforts on climate protection,” Palmer says.
The Energy Efficiency Promotion Act, along with several private sector and federal initiatives, would reauthorize the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program at $750 million, provide grant money for energy efficiency and innovative energy technology projects at colleges and universities, and establish a job training program for workers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.