Energy Future Coalition

Energy efficiency is the first investment we should make to meet our energy needs.  It is cheap to produce and available now, generates clean energy, creates jobs, and is abundant enough to meet much of growth in demand for new energy.  A growing number of states—18 in all—have recognized the critical importance of energy efficiency in meeting their economic, energy, and environmental goals and have set targets for their energy savings.

We need a national energy efficiency standard that builds on the work of these forward-thinking states. The standard, known as an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard or EERS, sets a minimum level for energy savings (electricity and natural gas), establishes a target date, and creates the monitoring and verification needed to ensure savings are achieved. Setting a national standard highlights the critical role of efficiency for our energy future while avoiding a "one size fits all" approach and recognizing that each state will need a different strategy to meet the standard.

The Energy Future Coalition, in partnership with American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environment Northeast, and the Sierra Club, have proposed an EERS that sets a 15% electricity and 10% natural gas savings target by 2020.  A position statement detailing the proposal can be found here.  To date, the group's EERS proposal has attracted endorsements from a diverse array of businesses, NGOs, labor unions, and others. 

Based on ACEEE analysis, such a target could create 220,000 net U.S. jobs and result in $144 billion in utility bill savings.  Representative Ed Markey recently introduced legislation (H.R. 889) to create a national standard that would capture the economic and environmental benefits of an efficient energy future.

Resources

Three Pillars: A Comprehensive Approach to Setting Clean Energy Standards for the Electricity Sector

Press release announcing the launch of the Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America

Frequently Asked Questions about EERS

EERS Fact Sheet

Map of EERS targets by state

EERS Position Statement

Short presentation outlining the EERS

Save American Energy Act (H.R. 889)

Endorsements of the EERS Position Statement