| Letter to the editor: Set politics aside on energy | |||
| Nov 16, 2010 | Politico | ||
| Kateri Callahan
As an advocate of energy efficiency, I am appalled to see two important programs that drive this resource for our economy disparaged in political wrangling over budget deficits. Let's set politics aside for a moment and get the story straight.
Federal energy efficiency programs are highly cost-effective and have a proven track-record of benefitting U.S. taxpayers and our economy. Just as important, they enhance U.S. national security and help us meet growing energy demand without further environmental degradation.
ENERGY STAR stands as an exemplar. The program has earned the right to be praised, not maligned — as it was in Grover G. Norquist and Rep. Fred Upton's Nov. 15 Opinion article "Reduce out of control spending now."
ENERGY STAR is an effective, voluntary public-private consumer information program. It helps keep money in the pockets of American consumers – an especially valuable feature as we dig out of a recession – while also reducing our country's overall energy use and CO2 emissions.
In 2009 alone, ENERGY STAR saved U.S. taxpayers an estimated $17 billion in reduced energy bills, savings of at least $75 for every federal dollar spent.
The low income weatherization program has faced a series of challenges in ramping up, but it has helped lower the energy bills and improve the comfort of hundreds of thousands of families that need it most, while reducing their need for energy assistance from the government.
The most recent review found a benefit to cost ratio of 2.5 to one.
In short, ENERGY STAR and weatherization are effective programs that help American families. These programs deserve strong congressional support and should not be sacrificed in efforts to rein in the current budget deficit.
Kateri Callahan is the president of the Alliance to Save Energy.
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