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At an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) highlighted the need to provide statutory certainty when it comes to energy efficiency. Latta highlighted his efforts last Congress to update and modernize the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) program and called on Congress to put more Department of Energy (DOE) changes into statue. In addition, he spoke on the important investment and innovation occurring among manufacturers in his district. Latta toured Bard Manufacturing’s new innovation center in Williams County and Whirlpool’s Findlay plant last year.  

Latta said, “I believe that energy efficiency is a bipartisan issue, and we should be able to work together in this committee to ensure that DOE is able to put its resources toward the products and categories that will lead to the largest energy savings. This is what consumers expect from us, and giving DOE the tools to meet deadlines, provide more certainty to manufacturers, and therefore increase innovation and competition to benefit consumers should be our goal. 

“I recently toured a new, state-of-the-art, innovation center in my district. Additionally, we have seen product line expansions in other facilities across my district. These companies have seen that investing in Ohio is a win for their companies and the communities.”

Video of Latta’s opening statement is available here.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act was originally passed by Congress in 1975 and has been revised several times since. The latest revision of EPCA was passed in 2007. The legislation sets energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment. 

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