PROVIDENCE—Responding
to the rising cost of electricity and home heating fuels, the R.I House
and Senate have each voted to pass “The Energy and Consumer Savings Act
of 2006,” which would set minimum energy efficiency standards for five
household and commercial appliances.
The
bills, H-7610 (Handy) and S-2844 (Roberts), are 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 the
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.
Last
week the R.I. Senate voted unanimously to pass the Energy and Consumer
Savings Act of 2006 (S-2844), yesterday the R.I. House passed an
identical version (H-7610) on a vote of 63 to 5. The bills are now
moving to the opposite chamber for consideration. The House Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources is set to consider the Senate
measure today.
“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.”
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.
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).
