On July 30, APGA and several other trade associations, including the American Gas Association and American Public Power Association, sent letters to Representatives Carter (R-Ga.) and Green (D-Texas) and Senators Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Manchin (D-W.Va.) expressing support for legislation they recently introduced titled the All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2018. The legislation would, among other things, repeal Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. Section 433 eliminates all fossil fuel-generated energy from new and renovated federal buildings by the year 2030. This ban would apply to all new or renovated federal buildings. The law does not allow for the direct use of natural gas, combined heat and power (CHP), or distributed generation and eliminates all fossil fuel-generated electricity regardless of emissions.
The letter sent by APGA and the other energy trade associations states that the All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2018 would bring about much needed reform to federal energy policy. The letter also communicates that Section 433 of EISA is nearly impossible to implement, causing uncertainty for energy providers and federal facilities while inhibiting long-term innovation and growth, all at a significant cost to taxpayers. The letter closes by communicating that the All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2018 is a step forward towards a cohesive and functional federal energy efficiency policy that not only works for the federal government, but also does not waste taxpayer dollars.
A copy of the letters of support sent by APGA and the other associations is available on the APGA website. The Senate version (S. 3295) of the legislation has been referred to the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee. In the House, the legislation (H.R. 6584) was referred to the House energy and Commerce and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
For questions on this article, please contact Dave Schryver of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
dschryver@apga.org.