HARMAN HAILS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF HOUSE ENERGY BILL -- ADDS PROVISIONS TO IMPROVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY

Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, issued the following statement as the Committee concluded its mark-up of HR 2454 -- the American Energy Security and Independence Act -- and reported it favorably by a vote of 33-25.  The bill includes two bipartisan Harman-authored provisions to dramatically enhance the efficiency of outdoor lighting and phase-out “clunker” appliances. 

“As a Californian, and representative of some of the world’s most beautiful coastline, this is a huge deal,” said Harman.  “A system to cap-and-trade carbon emissions will also create thousands of green jobs in our state.” 

“I am proud to have added bipartisan provisions to this bill that will help phase-out inefficient outdoor lighting fixtures, as well as antiquated household appliances,” she added.

Harman’s lighting provision, co-authored with Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), sets incremental efficiency standards to phase-out outdated outdoor lighting technologies (which include incandescent and halogen lights), paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective lights (such as LEDs).  The bill complements the indoor lighting efficiency provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 – also authored by Harman and Upton.  Outdoor lighting represents approximately 20% of all electricity used for lighting purposes in the US. 

Harman’s “clunker” appliances provision, co-authored by Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI), tasks the Energy Department with creating a “Best-in-Class” appliance program to provide “bonuses” to retailers for every Best-in-Class product sold (defined as the top 10% of models in the product class, in terms of efficiency), and to manufacturers that mass produce Best-in-Class appliances.  Retailers who participate in the program must provide a reduction in price for new, more efficient appliances purchased by consumers who surrender old appliances.  This trade-in feature will help take old appliances completely out of circulation, substantially accelerating the transition to an energy-efficient economy. 

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