Representative Welch acknowledges strong bipartisan cooperation on energy efficiency
March 7th, 2013BURLINGTON, Vt. — Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said he has seen strong bipartisan cooperation on energy efficiency, in remarks at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
“There does seem to be strong bipartisan cooperation in leadership on efficiency,” Welch said at the hearing, citing two areas where he is working with Republican Committee members to advance energy efficiency proposals.
Welch cited his work with Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) to advance Energy Saving Performance Contracts (ESPCs), which allow the federal government to partner with the private sector to undertake energy efficiency upgrades that will save energy at no cost to the taxpayer. Contractors that do the efficiency work are paid from achieved efficiency savings. Welch and Gardner recently co-founded a caucus to increase the use of ESPCs.
Welch also cited his work with Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) on legislation to provide rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient. The rebates will be scaled to provide greater savings for those who save more energy. A similar Welch-authored bill was passed by the House in 2010 with bipartisan support.
Welch recently reclaimed his seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the House committee with jurisdiction over federal energy policy.
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