NEMA hails passage of U.S. comprehensive energy bill

Rosslyn, VA—The National Electrical Manufacturers Association(NEMA) is applauding the U.S. Congress for its recent passage of comprehensive energy legislation by bipartisan votes. NEMA says its members won a victory in the nation’s capital with an energy policy bill that includes provisions that benefit not only the industry, but also consumers and the public in the form of better electrical infrastructure and more efficient, effective use of energy. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 275-156. The U.S. Senate passed it by a vote of 74-26.

‘The association has worked hard to achieve this milestone in national energy policy,’ says Malcolm O’Hagan, NEMA’s president. ‘We congratulate the conferees, who quickly put together a package resolving the differences in the Senate and House bills. Conference chairmen Joe Barton (R-TX) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) resolutely pursued completion of Congressional work on the measure. The result contrasts sharply with partisan political bickering that blocked passage of this much needed, overdue legislation in the past few sessions of Congress.’

该法案包含规定,促进能量efficiency and conservation, energy production and supply, improved energy transmission and distribution, energy tax incentives, and new technologies that promise greater efficiency and environmental protection.

NEMA gained inclusion of an energy efficient commercial buildings measure that provides a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square ft for new or renovated buildings that exceed the ASHRAE 90.1-2001 standard by 50% with deductions for lighting systems, HVAC systems, and building envelope. Individual systems may receive up to a $0.60 per square ft deduction. The effective date of this provision is Dec. 31, 2005.

NEMA adds its pleased with a reduction in the tax depreciation period for electric transmission assets from 20 to 15 years. This will spur enhanced investments in transmission and is one of the largest tax provisions in the bill. NEMA was a strong advocate of the tax depreciation provision, which O’Hagan says, ‘will make a big contribution toward a more modern, more reliable electrical transmission system.’ Other NEMA-backed components of the legislation provide for:

• New federally regulated products, including medium screw-based compact fluorescent lamps, low-voltage, dry-type distribution transformers, pedestrian cross walks and traffic signals, exit signs, mercury-vapor ballasts, and torchiere lighting fixtures. NEMA supports energy efficiency standards for these products.

• Increased goals for federal energy efficiency, including building requirements to meet the ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standards, and metering and sub-metering requirements for federal buildings.

• Statutory authority for the Energy Star(r) program to increase stakeholder standing in making Energy Star program and specification decisions.

• A requirement for federal government to purchase NEMA Premium(r) electric motors and Energy Star products.

• Mandatory and enforceable transmission reliability standards.

• A requirement for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a rule providing incentive-based rates, which would encourage deployment of advanced transmission technologies, high-capacity conductor technologies, flexible ac transmission systems, and other products.

• Energy research and development provisions, including the Next Generation Lighting Initiative for solid state lighting, and advanced building programs that take advantage of lighting controls, daylighting technology, and occupancy sensors.

For a more complete list, visit www.nema.org/gov/energy/

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

你有经验和专业知识的遮阳帽吗cs mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Clickhereto start this process.