ABM Energy • Alliance for Industrial Efficiency • Alliance to Save Energy • American Council for
an Energy-Efficient Economy • American Gas Association • Conservation Services Group
Council of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association • Edison Electric Institute
Efficiency First • Efficiency.org • Energy Future Coalition • EnerNOC, Inc. • Environmental and
Energy Study Institute • Environmental Defense Fund • Florida Municipal Electric Association,
Inc. • Institute for Market Transformation • Integral Power, LLC • Intelliroof • International
District Energy Association • Knauf Insulation • National Association of Energy Service
Companies • National Association for State Community Services Programs • National Association
of State Energy Officials • National Electrical Manufacturers Association • National Grid • Natural
Resources Defense Council • NW Energy Coalition • Opower • Pacific Gas and Electric Company •
Primary Energy Recycling Corporation • Recycled Energy Development • Seattle City Light •
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association • Sierra Club • Southern
Alliance for Clean Energy The Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing • The Heat is
Power Association
U.S. Green Building Council
October 31, 2013
Dear Senator:
The undersigned organizations and companies wish to express our strong support for the
“Energy Productivity Innovation Challenge” or “EPIC Act of 2013”, and urge you to support it as
an amendment to S. 1392, the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.” .
The Energy Productivity Innovation Challenge was originally introduced in June 2013 by
Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) as the “State Energy Race to the Top
Initiative.” As a result of input from both sides of the aisle, the senators cut the funding request
in half and changed the name to better-reflect its broad purpose. However, the goal remains
the same: supporting states and tribes deciding what innovative energy efficiency policy works
for them. The reintroduced version was filed as an amendment (#1954) to the ShaheenPortman (S. 1392) energy efficiency bill during floor debate in September. The bill recognizes
that innovation in energy policy and regulatory responsibility are occurring at the state level. It
aims to double electric and thermal energy productivity by January 2030 while allocating a
reasonable $100 million for this three-year voluntary initiative.
The Energy Productivity Innovation Challenge is crafted to support policy and business
innovation by challenging states and tribes to develop new ideas and strategies. The legislation
allows for flexibility in the types of policy and technology that can be incorporated into a
revised state energy plan. Furthermore, it ensures a baseline is set from which the plans can be
measured – no state will have an advantage over another as their ability to increase their
productivity is measured against themselves, not each other. These plans will demonstrate how
the money will be spent, how the increased productivity will be measured, how private funds
will be leveraged, and how the promised savings will be sustainable after the initiative is
finished.
A recent ACEEE study estimated the economic benefits of the Shaheen-Portman bill and several
potential amendments, including the concept of the Energy Productivity Innovation
Competition (titled “State Energy Race to the Top Initiative” in the analysis). Overall the Energy
Productivity Innovation Competition amendment came out as a winner, with regards to energy
savings, CO2 reductions, and benefit-cost ratio. According to the ACEEE analysis, EPIC would
significantly leverage additional capital. In fact, ACEEE’s study shows that $1 invested in this
program returns $8.40 in energy savings.
The Energy Productivity Innovation Challenge would provide a much needed boost to our
nation’s economy, by reducing energy waste, saving consumers money, and reducing harmful
air pollution. The initiative will encourage states and tribes, while leveraging other
opportunities, to compete to develop cost effective energy efficiency policies and programs,
and reward those that demonstrate real results that will last beyond the challenge. We support
this piece of legislation and urge you to support adding it to S. 1392 to boost the bill’s success in
delivering energy savings to American families, improving our national energy productivity, and
making our economy more competitive.
Sincerely,
ABM Energy
Alliance for Industrial Efficiency
Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Gas Association
Conservation Services Group
Council of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (CNAIMA)
Edison Electric Institute
Efficiency First
Efficiency .org
Energy Future Coalition
EnerNOC, Inc.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Environmental Defense Fund
Florida Municipal Electric Association, Inc.
Institute for Market Transformation
Integral Power, LLC
Intelliroof
International District Energy Association
Knauf Insulation
National Association of Energy Service Companies
National Association for State Community Services Programs
National Association of State Energy Officials
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Grid
Natural Resources Defense Council
NW Energy Coalition
Opower
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Primary Energy Recycling Corporation
Recycled Energy Development
Seattle City Light
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association
Sierra Club
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
The Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing
The Heat is Power Association
U.S. Green Building Council