HOUSE BILL REPORT

HJM 4018

BYRepresentatives Todd and Nelson

Petitioning the federal department of energy to adopt revised energy standards for appliances which conform to the national appliance energy conservation act.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass. (10)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Brooks, Cooper, Gallagher, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May and H. Myers.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. (2)

      Signed by Representatives R. Meyers and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Energy conservation through the use of energy efficient home appliances constitutes a significant quantity of energy that can be liberated for other uses. This can be accomplished at less expense monetarily and environmentally than by acquiring new energy production facilities to produce the same amount of energy.

This was recognized by Congress in enactment of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, PL 100-12.  This act set initial appliance standards and required review and possible raising of the standards in 1989 by the U. S. Department of Energy.  This review is in progress now and advice from the Northwest Power Planning Council is that the department is inclining toward less than optimum energy efficiency standards.

The act specifies that the standards should be set at a level of best efficiency that is possible while still being cost-effective.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Energy is urged, in its ongoing review, to adopt the best possible levels of energy efficiency that are still cost-effective for certain specified appliances.  The levels of efficiency are specified in relation to efficiency levels defined and characterized by the department in its review proceedings.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.