Severe partisan politics and policy gridlock have characterized Washington during the last two years. As a result, passage of an energy policy, which was high on the Obama Administration’s list of priorities when the president took office in 2008, has stalled. And things are not likely to change during the 2012 campaign, as partisan politics continue to hinder progress and economic issues, both domestic and foreign, overshadow the energy discussion. But what happens after the election? What impact will election results have on energy efficiency in general and the HVACR industry in particular?
First of all, don’t look for a radical change in the political landscape. As votes are tallied, it is unlikely that one party will gain enough advantage to dominate the House, Senate, and Administration and usher in a landmark energy policy. In the House, a few seats may shift from one party to the other, but at the end of the day, Republicans will most likely retain leadership.