New Energy Solutions News

As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this news release. 

LEXINGTON—With prices of natural gas and electricity expected to remain volatile this year, Massachusetts has a rare opportunity to lower energy costs, improve electric system reliability and clean up the environment by adopting minimum efficiency standards on a range of consumer and industrial products, according to a new report released today.

The report was issued as part of the Northeast States Energy Efficiency Standards Project, a coalition of consumer, environmental, and energy efficiency groups advocating for state efficiency standards throughout the region in the absence of federal action in establishing new efficiency standards. It concludes that new minimum energy efficiency standards for 18 products can save more than $1.9 billion for Massachusetts consumers and businesses over the next two decades while also lowering peak electricity demand, deferring the need for new power plants and reducing power plant emissions.

A bill filed by Senator Robert O'Leary and Representative Matt Patrick for the 2005-2006 legislative session in Massachusetts calls for energy efficiency standards for the following products:

ceiling fan lights
commercial clothes washers
commercial refrigerators and freezers
commercial unit heaters
dehumidifiers
digital cable television and satellite boxes
digital television adapters
exit signs
external power supplies
commercial icemakers
incandescent reflector lamps
large commercial HVAC units
distribution transformers
metal halide lamp fixtures
commercial dishwasher pre-rinse spray valves
torchiere lighting fixtures
traffic signals
and residential furnaces and boilers.

"There is no better way to create new electric capacity than using what you have more efficiently," said state Rep. Matt Patrick (D-Falmouth), the lead House sponsor of the bill. "It is the least expensive form of electricity and this bill is a small step in capturing all the energy efficiency opportunities we have."

State Sen. Robert O'Leary (D-Cape and Islands), the lead Senate sponsor, said, "It has become more and more evident that states need to take the initiative in directing energy policy. Representative Patrick and I sponsored legislation to establish energy efficiency standards here in Massachusetts because we both believe it is the right thing to do."

Adopting these standards will save Massachusetts 1,488,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity (enough to meet the total annual energy needs of 200,000 typical households), as well as 6,124,5000 million BTUs of natural gas (enough to heat 91,000 typical New England homes) over the next 20 years. The standards will also reduce peak summer electric demand in Massachusetts by more than 217 megawatts by 2020, as well as reduce emissions of climate changing carbon dioxide by 271,000 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 182,000 cars from the state's roadways annually.

In addition to having the support of a variety of environmental, consumer and energy groups, new product standards in Massachusetts also have the support of the state's leading electric utility, Massachusetts Electric Co.

"Adopting minimum efficiency standards is one of the most effective ways to save energy," said Sue Coakley, executive director of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. "Once again, with standards bills being introduced across the Northeast this year, each state, including Massachusetts, has a real opportunity to take the lead in securing our nation's energy supply, helping our environment and improving our economy."

"This is smart energy policy, and an exciting opportunity," said Frank Gorke, Energy Advocate for the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). "It's the right tool for starting to fix our energy problems."

Last year, Connecticut and Maryland adopted new product standards legislation, and a standards bill passed in New Jersey is awaiting final action. In addition to Massachusetts, appliance efficiency standards measures are being debated again this year in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York and Pennsylvania.

The report detailing new standards opportunities for states, entitled Leading the Way: Continued Opportunities for New State Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards, was co-authored by Project Partners the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, and is available online at www.standardsASAP.org or www.aceee.org.

About The Northeast Energy Efficiency Standards Project
The Northeast Energy Efficiency Standards Project is comprised of the following partner organizations: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships; Natural Resources Defense Council; the State Public Interest Research Groups (including PennEnvironment); Environment-Northeast; the National Consumer Law Center; the Appliance Standards Awareness Project; and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. For more information, visit www.neep.org/Standards.