On the recordApril 1, 2014
I rise today to discuss the important role that energy efficiency plays in our transition to a clean energy economy, and the importance of supporting energy efficiency efforts with strong Federal policy. Today, Senators Cardin, Feinstein, and I introduced comprehensive legislation, called the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Act of 2014, to reform, improve, and extend crucial tax incentives for energy efficiency. Our legislation focuses on three key sectors: commercial buildings, homes, and industry and manufacturing. My colleagues have spoken ably about the first two already today, and I would like to spend a few moments discussing the third title of this bill. This bill would create targeted, non-permanent incentives to help the U.S. industrial sector become more globally competitive by employing smart technological improvements to reduce energy use and encourage water reuse. We have continually seen the eagerness of U.S. industries to innovate and improve the processes by which they produce countless high-quality goods. This set of incentives will help U.S. manufacturers accelerate and expand cutting-edge ideas while also reducing costs. Industrial and manufacturing facilities have processes specific to each industry and even to each facility. Therefore, industrial efficiency improvements must be focused on these processes, not building retrofits like we see in commercial and residential efficiency measures.…





