Quickest, Cheapest, Cleanest Way to Extend U.S. Energy Supplies - Says Alliance to Save Energy

Washington, D.C., April 27, 2005 - The Alliance to Save Energy today urged the U.S. Senate to back up President Bush's call for more energy efficiency - the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to tackle high energy prices and limited supplies by reducing demand - with passage of a comprehensive energy bill that addresses the alarming growth in energy demand. In his speech today to small business leaders, Bush touted public policies to encourage energy efficiency technologies in homes and vehicles as a key step in making the United States less dependent on foreign energy sources.

"President Bush's recognition that federal energy efficiency policies are central to our nation's economy and energy security is very welcome news, especially in light of the new House energy bill, which stripped many of the important tax incentives and other energy-efficiency provisions that were a part of the energy bill in the last Congress," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. According to Alliance research, energy savings from the new House bill, H.R. 6, would be about one-third less than under last year's energy bill conference report, also called H.R. 6.

As the president calls upon the Congress to do more for consumers and businesses that are reeling from record gasoline, oil and natural gas prices, the Alliance urged the Senate to pass legislation that includes significant energy-efficiency provisions. Callahan added, "Our energy problems and record energy prices are as much, or more, a function of demand that it growing at unsustainable rates as of supply constraints, making it imperative for Congress to take immediate action to reduce the growth in energy demand."

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The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.