05 Jul 2019 BPC Action Applauds Bicameral Introduction of Energy Savings through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019 in Energy and Environment

BPC Action commends Sens. Gardner (R-CO) and Coons (D-DE), along with Reps. Welch (D-VT) and Kinzinger (R-IL), for the bicameral introduction of the Energy Savings through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019. We applaud the congressional support for greater energy efficiency and energy saving measures across the federal government.

The legislation supports efforts to increase energy and water efficiency and clean energy innovation by enhancing the energy and water efficiency of federal facilities and directing the federal government to use Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Savings Contracts (UESCs). ESPCs and UESCs are public-private partnerships in which private companies invest in efficiency upgrades to facilities and receive a portion of the money saved from the efficiency improvements. Additionally, the legislation reduces the energy costs for federal agencies and supports private sector jobs. The federal government is the largest single consumer of energy in the country, so requiring federal facilities to incorporate energy (and water) savings projects will save the taxpayers money by improving efficiency reducing energy costs. The Energy Savings through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019 will ensure the federal government becomes more efficient by employing the ingenuity and competencies of the private sector through ESPCs and UESCs.

BPC Action looks forward to working with Congress to pass this important bill.