by Jbs091908 a3 — September 22, 2008—More than thirty groups, ranging from the AFL-CIO to The Real Estate Roundtable, issued a call to action on September 16, 2008, for the federal government and states to make energy efficiency a frontline approach to addressing energy supply constraints and reducing global warming emissions, starting with the drilling and alternative energy proposals currently before Congress.
The broad-based group of industry and financial leaders, state treasurers, environmental groups, and energy policy advocates urged the government to greatly ramp up its commitment to energy efficiency measures. Among additional priorities, the group called for:
- Governors and state leaders to prioritize efficiency and allow it to compete with power generation
- The next President to appoint a National Energy Efficiency Advocate
- The Congress to establish worker training programs
- Both the next President and Congress to remake the regulatory and financial incentive landscape in order to make the US a worldwide leader in efficiency technologies
Specifically, the statement declares that “[r]apid adoption of policies and programs that drive greater energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industries, and government facilities will make electricity more affordable and reliable, enhance our standard of living, create new jobs, and protect the environment.” The statement concludes that “[a]n effective strategy to spur investment in energy efficiency, involving the private sector and government, including regulatory agencies, would reap large energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and serve as an engine for economic development, creating millions of new jobs.”
The call to action and complete roster of supporting organizations, recruited by the Energy Future Coalition and its partner organizations, can be found on the Coalition’s Web site.
