“There does seem to be strong bipartisan cooperation in leadership on efficiency,” Welch said at the hearing, highlighting two areas where he is working with Republican committee members to advance energy efficiency proposals.

Welch cited his work with Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) to advance energy saving performance contracts (ESPCs), which allow the federal government to partner with private sector companies to undertake energy efficiency upgrades that will save energy at no cost to the taxpayer. The energy service companies that do the upgrades are paid from the achieved efficiency savings. Welch and Gardner recently co-founded a caucus to increase the use of ESPCs.

Welch also cited his work with Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) on legislation to provide rebates to homeowners who retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient. The rebates will be scaled to provide greater savings for those who save more energy. A similar Welch-authored bill was passed by the House in 2010 with bipartisan support.

Publication date: 2/25/2013