December 3, 2007
Dear Members of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,
On behalf of PennEnvironment, I am writing to ask you to support special session House Bill 15, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Act. HB15 will establish new energy efficiency standards for 11 appliances that are commonly used in Pennsylvania. This legislation would lead to a healthier economy and environment for all Pennsylvanians.
Adopting the energy efficiency standards included in special session HB15 would:
- Reduce electricity consumption by the equivalent of 130,000 households;
- Lower natural gas use by 75,000 households;
- Reduce the same amount of carbon emissions as that emitted by 300,000 automobiles;
- Produce net economic benefits of $1.85 billion.
Efficiency standards for appliances are the cleanest, quickest and cheapest way to begin solving our energy problems now, and to reduce the environmental impacts of our energy use. The economic advantages of efficiency standards are clear: more efficient appliances use less energy, and thus mean lower energy bills for Pennsylvania businesses and consumers.
Please support the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Act (Special Session HB 15) to establish new energy efficiency standards for 11 commonly used appliances in the Commonwealth, such as residential furnaces, walk-in refrigerators and freezers, and metal halide lamp fixtures. Passage of this legislation will save Pennsylvanians money, and reduce our demand on the polluting and dangerous energy sources that currently damage our environment and public health.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. As always, do not hesitate to contact me with any question you may have about this or other environmental issues. I look forward to continuing our work together to protect Pennsylvania’s environment.
Sincerely,
Nathan Willcox,
Clean Energy and Air Advocate
PennEnvironment
