Some folks are calling the energy bill a “jobs creation” bill.
As the U.S. Senate works on energy and climate legislation, advocates call for strong energy efficiency provisions. Dan Kohler, Director of Wisconsin Environment, cites a new report that shows the smart use of energy would create thousands of jobs, save consumers money, reduce dependency on fossil fuel, and cut pollution.
“… will save Wisconsin families $249 annually on their energy bills and create 13,400 new jobs in Wisconsin over the next ten years.”
Kohler says businesses and consumers spend millions of dollars every day on wasted energy.
The House of Representatives passed its version of an energy bill this June, but Kohler says more can be done.
Clay Nesler, VP of Global Energy & Sustainability for Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls agrees, and urges members of the Senate to push for even better efficiencies by requiring utility companies to reduce their energy usage by at least 10%.
Kohler says the report also found that such efficiency provisions would prevent 9 million metric tons of global warming emissions, the equivalent of removing the pollution from 1.6 million cars from the road for a year.
NOTE: The full report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy can be found at www.WisconsinEnvironment.org