2006

• On May 16, 2006 Vermont Governor James Douglas signed into law a bill requiring better energy efficiency standards for a range of products including residential furnaces and boilers. Read the full press release here.


• On April 26, 2006 the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Financial Services, Technology and Regulatory Issues gave a favorable report on SB 2844, the efficiency standards bill.  As the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has already approved the legislation, the measure heads to the full House of Representatives next week.


• On February 8, 2006, the Vermont House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass an energy efficiency standards bill that includes furnace and boiler standards as well as a provision allowing for the addition of new product standards in the future. The bill now goes to the Vermont Senate for approval.

  2005

• On November 22, 2005 Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed an energy efficiency standards bill that will reduce electricity use by about 700,000 megawatt-hours per year by 2020 (equivalent to the average use of about 100,000 households). For more information, please read the press release.



• With oil prices continuing to rise and the winter months just around the corner, The New York Times tackles the issue of furnace efficiency standards. Read more in "Washington Fiddles While Oil Burns" (August 25, 2005).
  
  
• On July 1, 2005 the Rhode Island Gov. Carcieri signed an energy efficiency bill establishing minimum efficiency standards for 14 common household and commercial appliances. Rhode Island is the seventh state to enact standards legislation.
  
  
• On June 23, the New York State Assembly joined the State Senate in overwhelmingly approving energy efficiency standards legislation. The bill covers an expanded product list including ceiling fan light kits and consumer electronics. It also gives the New York Department of State general authority to set the specific standards for each product, with the exception of commercial air conditioners, commercial refrigerators, automatic ice makers and metal halide lamp fixtures. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Pataki.
  
  
• On June 16, 2005 the Rhode Island State Senate approved an energy efficiency bill that will cut energy waste, reduce air pollution and improve the reliability of the electric grid by setting minimum energy standards for 14 common household and commercial appliances. Please click here to read the full press release.
  
  
• On May 4, 2005 the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill to set minimum energy efficiency standards on a range of products. These standards would save Rhode Island nearly $265 million over the next 25 years and would reduce climate changing pollution by an amount equivalent to removing 28,000 cars from the road. Read the press release here.
  
  
• Read the letters issued to the Rhode Island House and Senate by the Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Initiative Stakeholder Group calling for legislative support for appliance efficiency standards in that state.
  
  
• An amendment to the federal energy bill, passed on April 6, 2005, preempts state energy efficiency standards for ceiling fans. Read the press release.
  
  
• On March 8, New Jersey Governor Richard Codey officially signed into law a bill setting efficiency standards on eight common appliances. This legislation will save New Jersey consumers and businesses almost $900 million by 2020 in reduced electricity and natural gas bills. The successful passage of the bill is due to the efforts of Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, Senator Paul Sarlo, Emily Rusch of the New Jersey PIRG and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. New Jersey becomes the third Northeast state, joining Maryland and Connecticut, to enact efficiency standards legislation.
  
  
• New Jersey efficiency standards bill targets eight products. Read the latest coverage, "Energy hogs are put on...Watt Watchers," from the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• Report details savings achievable by Northeast states through Appliance Efficiency Standards. Read about the potential savings for Massachusetts.
  
  
• On February 25, 2005, the Vermont State Senate voted unanimously to pass S.52, an omnibus energy bill that includes efficiency standards for 19 products. The legislation now heads to the Vermont House where two hearings at the Vermont House Natural Resources Committee have already been held.
  
  

2004

• NEEP calls on the U.S. Department of Energy to set strong furnace and HVAC efficiency standards for the Northeast. Read more here.
  
  
• New Jersey Assembly passes efficiency standards bill. Read the press release.
  
  
• Connecticut is the second Northeast state to enact equipment energy efficiency standards. Click here to read the press release.
  

For more information regarding the project, contact Project Manager Isaac Elnecave at 781-860-9177, ext. 23 or by e-mail at ielnecave@neep.org.

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