Sen. Franken Backs Major Bipartisan Energy-Efficiency Measure To Cut Nation’s Energy Use, Create Jobs, Save Consumers Money

Long-Overdue Legislation Includes Sen. Franken’s Provision To Help Reduce Energy Use By the Federal Government, the Nation’s Largest Energy Consumer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 12, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has joined several Senate colleagues in pressing a major new bipartisan measure to create a national energy strategy that increases energy efficiency, creates jobs, saves consumers money, and protects the environment.

Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Energy Committee, authored a key provision of the bill that will help make the federal government—the nation’s largest energy consumer—more energy efficient. The legislation, known as the Portman-Shaheen Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) was introduced by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) as the chief sponsors.

“This bipartisan effort to create a new national energy strategy will be central to moving the nation toward a more energy-efficient economy,” said Sen. Franken. “In the process it will create thousands of private-sector jobs, save billions in energy costs for consumers, and dramatically cut pollution. It’s a long-overdue measure that is widely supported by industry leaders, energy efficiency advocates, and environmental stakeholders because of all the benefits it will bring.”

The bill uses a variety of low-cost tools and energy-efficient technologies that are commercially available today, can be widely deployed across the country, and quickly pay for themselves through energy savings.

Franken Provision Requires Measuring and Reporting of Energy Used in Buildings Leased by Federal Govt.

Sen. Franken said his provision included in the bill requires federally-leased buildings to measure and report their energy use so that appropriate energy-saving technologies can be put to work cutting federal energy use. The provision would not only identify federal energy cost-saving measures, but also help create private-sector jobs by spurring the manufacture and the installation of energy-efficient technologies.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hoeven (R-N. Dak.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).