What's New
Environment Massachusetts led the effort to pass the Energy Efficiency Standards Bill, the nation’s first updated efficiency standard for residential furnaces and boilers— one of the biggest energy users in our homes. The law, signed by the Governor in November 2005, will cut smog and global warming pollution from old dirty power plants, and save consumers and businesses nearly $1 billion on their energy bills between now and 2030, once the federal government grants the Commonwealth’s request for a waiver to implement the standards.
The Chairs of the legislature’s Energy Committee, Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative Brian Dempsey, along with the bills original sponsors, Representative Matt Patrick and Senator Robert O’Leary, deserve our thanks for their strong leadership in passing this bill. Environment Massachusetts is now working with state agencies to put efficiency regulations into place.
Summary
The Energy Efficiency Standards bill was opposed by some of the big appliance manufacturers and their national trade associations, despite the fact that many of them make more efficient versions of the products that waste less energy. They said they would prefer federal standards-and so would we. Unfortunately, it's not likely that President Bush and Congress will act soon to provide relief.
After a multi-year campaign for new appliance energy efficiency standards, last winter we were able to help pass the Energy Efficiency Standards Law, which will save energy and money by making furnaces, boilers, and other products more efficient.
A clean, simple solution
Environment Massachusetts has helped to make Massachusetts a leader
on energy conservation while providing relief to consumers and businesses. By
passing the Energy Efficiency Standards Law, consumers and businesses will save
nearly $1 billion in the coming years, and reduce our need for natural gas. It
will improve the reliability of the electricity grid enough to avoid the need
for a medium-sized power plant and cut pollution from existing dirty power
plants by the equivalent of taking approximately 100,000 cars off the road.
Our next steps
Environment Massachusetts will seek to further reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and promote smarter energy choices by:
• Requiring efficiency programs for oil and gas use, and improving
efficiency programs for electricity use.
• Expanding the state’s energy-efficiency programs.
• Improving energy-efficient building codes and enforcement.
• Promoting energy efficiency in industry and state government.
• Requiring energy-efficiency investments before building new plants and power
lines.