PROVIDENCE—Responding
to the rising cost of electricity and home heating fuels, the R.I
General Assembly has passed, “The Energy and Consumer Savings Act of
2006,” which would set minimum energy efficiency standards for five
household and commercial appliances.
The
bill H-7610 (Handy) is designed to reduce energy consumption, lower
energy costs and cut pollution from power plants, by setting minimum
energy efficiency standards for new appliances sold in the state.
The
net present economic value of the Energy and Consumer Savings Act is
over $100 million and the annual energy savings are projected to be
equivalent to the annual energy use of 9,300 households by 2020. The
bill will also reduce peak electricity demand, which can relieve strain
on the electric grid during time of peak electricity use, making the
electric grid more reliable.
The
bills environmental benefits are also substantial. The new standards
are projected to offset over 85 tons of smog-forming nitrogen-oxide
(NOx) pollution, 81 tons of sulfur-dioxide (SOx) pollution and as much
global warming pollution as is produced by 13,500 cars each year by
2020.
“Energy
efficiency is the quickest, smartest and cheapest way for Rhode Island
to cut energy costs and reduce pollution from power plants,” said Matt
Auten, Advocate with the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group
(RIPIRG). “These bills are a win-win for energy consumers and for the
environment. The House and Senate deserve praise for approving these
bills and taking a pro-consumer approach to dealing with rising
electricity and home heating costs.”
The
Energy and Consumer Savings Act of 2006 would create new energy
efficiency standards for five products, including residential furnaces
and boilers, bottle-type water dispensers, commercial hot food holding
cabinets, walk in refrigerators and freezers, and certain lighting
products. These products were chosen specifically because they will
produce significant energy savings for consumers in a short period of
time, and because there are already many efficient models on the
marketplace that meet the proposed standards.
A
companion Senate version of the Energy and Consumer Savings Act S-2844
(Roberts) is scheduled to be voted out of the House next week. The
bills are likely to be transmitted to Gov. Carcieri at the same time.
Last
year the R.I. General Assembly voted to set energy efficiency standards
for thirteen household and commercial appliances, the bill was signed
into law by Gov. Carcieri. The legislation this year would add five
additional products to Rhode Island’s list of standards.
Other
states that have passed energy efficiency standards for certain
products include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
Other
organizations supporting the bill include: Northeast Energy Efficiency
Partnerships (NEEP), Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP),
National Grid, The Energy Council of R.I, People’s Power & Light,
Clean Water Action, Audubon Society of R.I., American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Environment Council of R.I.
(ECRI).
