Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill passes Senate

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March 27, 2015

At 4:00am on March 27, the Senate passed Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 (S. 535) as part of the Senate “vote-a-rama” . Previously, similar bills were stymied by congressional focus on Keystone XL, though related language was introduced and adopted as an amendment to the Keystone XL legislation that President Obama vetoed earlier this year. The bipartisan legislation would encourage energy efficiency in commercial buildings, exempt certain water heaters from upcoming Department of Energy efficiency standards, and require federal agencies to implement energy-efficient technology and report energy usage data for buildings that do not meet Energy Star benchmarks. The bill now moves on to consideration by the House.

Sources: Congress, E&E News, National Journal, Senator Portman’s website