[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE OUTDOOR LIGHTING EFFICIENCY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2009

  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, in 2007, Congressman Upton and I 
introduced legislation--which became law as part of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act--that will revolutionize the way 
Americans light their homes.
  Our legislation bans the famously inefficient 100-watt incandescent 
light bulb by 2012, phases out remaining inefficient light bulbs by 
2014, and requires that light bulbs be at least three times as 
efficient as today's 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2020.
  That bill was the product of bipartisan and bicameral efforts to 
forge a consensus between industry and environmental groups. The result 
was not only broadly accepted, it was groundbreaking. The Alliance to 
Save Energy estimates that the provisions will eventually save $18 
billion in energy costs every year, and prevent the emission of 100 
million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030. That's the equivalent 
of taking 20 million cars off the road.
  Today, we will introduce legislation that builds on this success by 
setting efficiency standards for outdoor lighting.
  Outdoor lighting currently consumes approximately 4.4% of all the 
electricity produced in the United States. Most of this lighting is 
currently provided by outdated and inefficient technologies.
  Our bill sets efficiency standards to phase out these inefficient 
technologies (which include incandescent and halogen lights), paving 
the way for more efficient and cost-effective lights (such as super-
efficient light emitting diodes, or LEDs). The first standard will be 
set in 2011, the second in 2013, and the last in 2015. The Department 
of Energy would then have the authority to set rules that raise 
efficiency standards even further.
  The bill also requires outdoor lights to come with bi-level controls, 
which permit users to alter the amount of light emitted. You don't need 
the same level of brightness at dusk as you do in the middle of the 
night. This is important, because these controls will give cities, 
counties, and other users more control over their own energy usage, 
empowering them to maximize their own energy conservation efforts.
  Finally, like in 2007, we protect the efforts of early innovators 
such as California, which has already passed an outdoor lighting 
standard. Our bill allows California to fully implement its law before 
imposing nationwide preemption.
  The energy savings that will flow from these efficiency improvements 
are stunning. A leading industry group estimates that this bill could 
eventually reduce energy usage from outdoor lighting by more than 25%, 
saving more than $6 billion in electricity costs every year. That's the 
equivalent of more than 50 coal fired power stations.
  And like our 2007 legislation, we are proud that this bill is a 
bipartisan, consensus effort forged after extensive discussions between 
leading environmental and industry groups.
  The United States will not be able to get its arms around the twin, 
daunting challenges of global climate change and dependence on oil 
until we pursue efficiency and energy conservation wherever it is 
technologically feasible.
  We believe that this bill, like its 2007 counterpart, is a vital and 
necessary piece of the solution. We urge its swift passage.

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