WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today Reps. Greg Stanton of Arizona, Marc Veasey of Texas, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG), which provides grants to state, local and tribal governments to support initiatives that will reduce fossil fuel emissions and conserve energy. The bill reauthorizes the program and provides it with $3.5 billion annually for the next five years.
The program has only been funded twice since being enacted in 2007. Most recently, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed $550 million for fiscal year 2022 to the EECBG program. A reliable schedule of funding would allow local governments to build capacity and plan for future investments and sustained programs.
“In our fast-growing, desert state, we have an urgent responsibility to invest in energy efficient infrastructure that is both sustainable and makes good business sense,” Stanton said. “Giving local governments the resources to spur community-level clean energy projects will save residents, businesses and taxpayers money, and create good jobs.”
"I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program to get resources directly into local communities by increasing energy efficiency, creating new jobs, and improving air quality," Veasey said. "The reauthorization of this program will provide certainty and stability to state and local governments. Cities in the North Texas district I represent have benefitted tremendously and improved energy efficiency in all sectors of the local economies since the EECBG Program’s inception."
“The bipartisan effort to reauthorize the EECBG program will promote American energy independence while incentivizing local governments to reduce fossil fuel emissions with energy efficiency,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m proud to introduce this bill that will allow communities to diversify their energy supplies, lower costs, and create jobs.”
“I am proud of this effort by my colleagues and I to lower Americans energy costs, create jobs, and put money back in the pockets of American taxpayers,” Van Drew said. “Through the reauthorization of the EECBG Program, localities will have the necessary funding and resources to invest in their economic growth.”
The bill has earned support from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities.
“We are pleased to endorse this bipartisan legislation and urge Congress to support and fully fund the EECBG program… A sharp reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to reduce the severity of climate change impacts,” executives of both organizations wrote in a joint letter of support. “Moreover, improving energy efficiency and investing in renewable energy makes good economic sense for residents, businesses and communities.”
BACKGROUND
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program was first authorized under the Bush Administration in the Energy Independence and Security Act in 2007 to provide up to $2 billion a year over a five-year period from 2008 through 2012 and was later funded under the Obama Administration. The EECBG Program represents the largest nationwide direct investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies at the community level in U.S. history. According to the Department of Energy, for every EECBG dollar spent, program participants received approximately $1.76 in bill savings over the lifetime of the measures installed.
This bipartisan bill includes modifications to the original program to promote clean energy sources and help diversify local energy supplies. It would specifically authorize grant recipients to use funds on infrastructure to deliver alternative fuels such as natural gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and other next generation charging technologies.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.