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
”
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