NEMA urges House, Senate to reconcile energy bills, craft effective package

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) members recently hand-delivered a request to lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate, calling for a reconciliation of the two energy bills put forth by the chambers.

Pushing for a comprehensive energy bill that would further energy-efficiency policies, boost the country’s electrical infrastructure and improve the regulatory process surrounding the industry, NEMA leaders called for a compromise between H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015, and S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015.

"Electrical manufacturers applaud our lawmakers' leadership on energy efficiency and grid-modernization policies," NEMA President and CEO Kevin Cosgriff said. "America needs an energy policy that facilitates innovation, enhances energy savings, improves the regulatory process, and expands the global competitiveness of American manufacturers through the use of smart manufacturing technologies and processes."

The recommendations, delivered to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) include incentives for installing or retrofitting motor-drive systems and transformers with energy-efficient features. NEMA also called for a program that would set energy-conservation standards and improve the transmission-line permitting process, as well as support research on energy-storage options.