[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CELEBRATING THE ALLIANCE TO SAVE ENERGY'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETER WELCH

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2017

  Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Alliance to 
Save Energy on reaching its 40th anniversary and recognize their 
tireless efforts to improve the energy efficiency and increase the 
energy productivity of the United States. For four decades, the 
Alliance has worked with members of the House and Senate, of both 
parties, and every President and administration to find common ground 
around the idea of ``using less and doing more''. The Alliance has 
contributed to every major and minor piece of legislation dealing with 
energy efficiency passed by Congress and enacted into law since 1977. 
Simply put, without the Alliance, our economy would use more energy and 
do so less efficiently and productively.
   The Alliance is a national, not-for-profit, public-policy 
organization that works on a bipartisan basis with policymakers and 
with prominent leaders in the fields of business, education, the 
environment and sustainability, and consumer affairs. The Alliance 
focuses its efforts on policies that promote the efficient use of 
energy throughout the world to benefit the economy, environment, and 
security of the United States. And to do so, it leverages its own 
network to cultivate coalitions that endure for years.
   Over the past 40 years, energy efficiency policies pursued and 
conservation measures taken by the United States have caused annual 
energy consumption to decrease by more than 60 quads (quadrillion 
British thermal units) and saved American consumers and businesses $800 
billion annually. And since the Alliance's establishment by Senators 
Charles Percy of Illinois and Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota in 1977, the 
United States has doubled its energy productivity, which means that 
today our economy produces twice as much gross domestic product per 
each unit of energy consumed. That is staggering, especially when 
considering the myriad ways the energy sector has evolved and our own 
lives, behaviors, and habits have changed.
   Energy efficiency has enjoyed bipartisan support since the first 
policies were enacted in the wake of the oil crises of the 1970s. And 
much of that support hinges on the fact that energy efficiency is a 
reliable engine of job creation. Today, according to the United States 
Department of Energy, the energy efficiency sector now employs 2.2 
million Americans. In Vermont, about 9,000 men and women are employed 
in the energy efficiency sector. Over half of this workforce is 
employed by small businesses. And in most cases, these are local jobs 
that are not readily exported or handled by workers overseas.
   For the past four years, I have been a member of the Alliance's 
Honorary Board. My involvement in the Alliance's work reflects my 
belief in the importance of federal energy efficiency policy. It also 
lends me a platform to work with my colleagues to find bipartisan 
solutions to many challenges facing our modern--and modernizing--energy 
sector. I am honored to serve on the Alliance's Honorary Board along 
with colleagues Representatives Michael Burgess of Texas, Adam 
Kinzinger of Illinois, David McKinley of West Virginia, Dave Reichert 
of Washington, and Paul Tonko of New York.
   The Alliance should be proud of its first 40 years. But the next 40 
years will be even more important as we advance the energy efficiency 
policies we need to address the unprecedented challenge of global 
climate change. The Alliance and its diverse and committed coalition 
will be on the leading edge of what comes next in energy efficiency. It 
is my privilege to be part of the Alliance's efforts. Congratulations 
to Alliance on its 40 years of achievements, and good luck for its 
future endeavors.

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