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This week, APGA joined the Alliance to Save Energy, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and other companies and associations with an interest in energy efficiency on a letter to Congress. The letter asks committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to hold hearings on the Main Street Efficiency Act.

A version of the legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress. As drafted, it would establish a grant program at the Department of Energy to pay customer contributions for small businesses to participate in demand side management programs offered by both gas and electric utilities. The intent would be to encourage greater participation in those programs to lower energy costs and reduce the economic burden placed on small businesses.

A hearing is the first step to moving legislation forward as it allows for debate and discussion about any changes necessary to garner bipartisan support and to move the legislation towards enactment. APGA appreciates that the legislation includes natural gas utilities as well as electric, and supports this call for further discussion on the important topic of improving energy efficiency.

A copy of the letter is available here.

For questions on this article, please contact Emily Wong of APGA staff by phone at 202-470-4262 or by email at ewong@apga.org.