Industry Group Supports Passage of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act

The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and its small business members have announced its support of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 (S. 1392), and is urging federal legislators to support the measure immediately.

The bill was co-authored by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and the legislation passed the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with broad bipartisan support.

Language in the bill will promote energy efficiency retrofit projects for the private sector and commercial buildings — a significant opportunity for small- to mid-sized business owners.  This will create opportunities for innovative programs and provides incentives for small business manufacturers to install more energy-efficient technologies at their facilities, promote workforce training and create voluntary, model building codes, provide for an educated workforce, and foster healthy working environments.

“We are very thankful to Senator Portman for his leadership on this important legislation,” says Steve Millard, president and executive director of COSE.  “Small businesses have many challenges, but energy efficiency programs make a difference to their bottom line, and this legislation will increase the use of energy efficiency technologies in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.”

COSE has been on the forefront of energy efficiency issues related to small businesses and helps them boost efficiencies with energy assessments and retrofits, as well as identifying resources for financial incentives and rebates and facilitating the pathway to capital.  In 2012 alone, COSE’s Energy Choice program performed 150 energy assessments, and delivered millions of dollars in utility savings to small businesses.  COSE expects to perform almost 1,500 energy assessments in the next three years.

COSE announced its support of the bill after it was reviewed by small business owners that are members of the COSE Advocacy Committee.  The Committee provides a forum for volunteers to discuss, research and share the specific values, principles and policies of COSE regarding public issues affecting small businesses.