ACEEE Comments on National Clean Energy Standard Proposal

May 21st, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has chimed in on a potential National Clean Energy Standard (NCES). Naturally, it’s in favor of energy efficiency being included in that. And, of course, we’re highly supportive of that idea here at CleanTechnica, so I’m sharing ACEEE’s full statement:

A national clean energy standard (CES) should include energy efficiency, noted ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel in comments submitted for the record in conjunction with a Senate Energy Committee hearing held [last week] on a CES bill authored by Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman.

Under the bill as proposed, clean electricity sources must account for a steadily increasing share of U.S. electricity use but energy efficiency is not included in the list of clean energy resources. Nadel described how analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that including energy efficiency in the CES will reduce costs to consumers relative to the proposed CES by reducing electricity prices and electricity use. In addition, reduced electricity demand will reduce the amount of natural gas burned to generate electricity, reducing natural gas prices relative to those under the CES. According to the EIA analysis, energy efficiency savings will also reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide.

Nadel also provided information on 33 states that are already making significant commitments to energy efficiency, putting them in a good position to expand their programs in response to a CES. In addition, he provided data on how energy efficiency is more labor-intensive than other energy resources; therefore, increased use of energy efficiency under a CES will increase employment. Nadel concluded: “Energy efficiency is our cheapest and cleanest energy resource. In order to reduce the cost of the CES and further reduce electric sector emissions, energy efficiency should be included in the CES.”

To read the comments, visit http://aceee.org/regulatory-filing/s2146

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Tags: ACEEE, ces, clean energy standard, Clean Energy Standard Act, energy efficiency clean energy standard, national clean energy standard, NCES

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.