NLBMDA News - House Committee Clears Energy-Climate Change Legislation Establishing National Energy Code

From NLBMDA....

The House Energy and Commerce Committee spent the week prior to Memorial Day considering nearly 100 amendments to the "American Clean Energy and Security Act" (H.R. 2454) before passing it out of Committee by a vote of 33-25. Four Blue Dog Democrats voted against the bill: Reps. Mike Ross (D-AR), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and John Barrow (D-GA). Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) was the sole Republican to vote in favor. The bill contains a section on "Building Energy Efficiency Programs" which calls for a national preemptive building code energy efficiency target that achieves a 30% reduction in energy use over current building codes at the date of enactment and a 50% reduction for residential buildings by January 1, 2014 (and for commercial buildings by January 1, 2015). Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) offered an amendment to strike the building code language but it was defeated by a vote of 31 to 20. Read more.