WASHINGTON (September 4, 2019) –The Department of Energy announced it will proceed with rolling back energy-saving standards for everyday light bulbs. DOE’s decision to exclude certain types of bulbs from current standards, in place since President George W. Bush signed legislation to phase out inefficient incandescent and halogen light bulbs in 2007, would increase consumer utility bills by an estimated $12 billion ($100 per household) and require the energy equivalent of 25 power plants.
The following is a statement from Bob Keefe, executive director of the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs):
“Consumers and businesses are the ones who will pay for this dim-witted decision. With a flip of the switch, the Trump administration wants to reduce energy efficiency in everyday lightbulbs, of all things.
“That’s going to cost taxpayers more money, make U.S. businesses less competitive, threaten jobs and innovation and set back our efforts to combat climate change.”
Currently, efficient lighting technologies employ roughly 370,000 Americans across the U.S., according to E2’s Clean Jobs America 2019 report.
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For more information please contact Michael Timberlake at (202) 289-2407 or [email protected].
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E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.