Air News Release (HQ): EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United States

[Guest guest]

[ciaq] EPA

and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United Statesþ

From:

CIAQ

EMail (ciaq@...)

Sent:

February

2, 2010 1:56:20 PM

To:

Air

News Release (HQ): EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress

in the United States

EPA CONTACT: Enesta , jones.enesta@... , ,

DOE PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 2, 2010

EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United

States

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing

energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the creation of

the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost

effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and

industry by 2020. Strengthening

energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and

protect the environment at the same time.

“In the clean energy future, energy efficiency is action number one. We can cut greenhouse gases and protect

our environment at the same time we save money for homeowners, schools and

businesses,” said EPA Administrator P. . “With strong federal

support, our state partners can realize these benefits even faster than

expected and move aggressively into a clean, affordable energy future.”

“Expanding energy efficiency is one of the quickest, most cost-effective ways

we can address climate change and grow America’s economy,” said Energy

Secretary Chu. “The State

Energy Efficiency Action Network will help provide states with the technical

and policy support they need to invest in energy efficiency, saving energy and

money for families and businesses across the country.”

The SEE Action Network will be led by DOE and EPA. Through the network, DOE,

EPA and other member organizations will assist states with their energy

efficiency initiatives, including residential efficiency programs, financing

solutions, and improving availability of energy usage information. It will address the full range of challenges

to implementation by providing targeted technical assistance to states in order

to reach ambitious national energy goals to greatly improve our nation’s

economy and environment.

The SEE Action Network will drive energy efficiency by using a broad set of

goals developed in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, but will

strive to reach these goals five years earlier than originally envisioned. The goals range from establishing

state-of-the art billing systems that provide consumers with consistent

information on their energy use and costs to developing strong state policies

to ensure robust energy efficiency practices.

The new SEE Action Executive Group will meet for the first time in early March.

A number of working groups will continue to meet throughout the year to deliver

results on specific goals.

The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is a public-private initiative

that began in the fall of 2005 to create a sustainable, aggressive national

commitment to energy efficiency through collaborative efforts of gas and

electric utilities, utility regulators, state agencies and other partner

organizations.

More information on the SEE Action Network: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/seeaction/index.html.

More information on reports and tools for states advancing energy efficiency: http://www.epa.gov/eeactionplan.

R032

EPA CONTACT: Enesta ,

jones.enesta@..., ,

DOE PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

----

Thank you,

Philip Jalbert

CIAQ Executive Secretary

CIAQ@...

www.epa.gov/iaq/ciaq

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------END Forwarded by Cutz, CIH (Tuesday, February 02, 2010)