February 13, 2012
President’s 2013 Energy Budget Makes Critical Investments in Energy Efficiency
Budget Signifies President’s Commitment To An American Economy “Built To Last”
Washington D.C. – The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), a national trade association which has been promoting the benefits of the widespread use of energy efficiency for over 25 years, strongly supports President Obama’s 2013 budget request in which he bolstered his commitment to energy efficiency as an essential part of both our economic recovery and our long term economic growth.
The new budget proposal would raise funding for the Energy Department by 3.2 percent to $27.2 billion, boosting money for clean energy, research and development, and advanced manufacturing. It also includes an 80 percent increase in money to promote energy efficiency in commercial buildings and industries and $310 million for the Solar Shot Initiative to make solar cost competitive by the end of the decade.
President Obama’s budget proposal emphasizes the Administration’s commitment to energy efficiency and the role it will play in building a clean energy economy. Terry E. Singer, Executive Director of NAESCO said that “The President clearly recognizes that energy efficiency is a critical component of our economic future and is the fastest, cleanest and cheapest way to meet growing energy needs.” The Budget Proposal follows his recent State of the Union Address in which the President cited energy efficiency as “the easiest way to save money”.
Energy efficiency is creating jobs and economic growth and putting Americans to work right now in states across the country. The clean economy at large now counts 2.7 million workers in its ranks which includes approximately 400,000 workers manufacturing and installing more energy-efficient technologies, such as more efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, that save consumers money on their energy bills, provide better performance and reduce pollution. The energy service industry alone has created roughly 300,000 jobs, provided $50 billion in energy savings and $25 billion in public infrastructure improvements since 1990.
NAESCO lauds the President’s leadership and encourages Washington policy makers to aggressively support the President’s budget request for the Department of Energy. Donald Gilligan, NAESCO president said “ This budget request to increase funding support for the Department of Energy will help secure our nation’s energy future, work to boost our economic growth and global competitiveness, and create an “America built to last ”.