Laserfiche WebLink
<br />tl OiO'lJS' : <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />service organiZation in Congress. It has a <br />membership of-290 Representatives and 90 <br />Senators from both sides of the aisle and <br />across the political spectrum.) <br /> <br />Energy <br /> <br />ProgramDirector,Caro! Werner arid <br />her assistant, Beth Nalker, contin- ' <br />ued advancing the recommenda- <br />tionsof the EFSI Board's 1988 energy policy <br />statement, which stressed efficiency as the <br />most cost-effective, environmentally benign <br />option. <br /> <br />With the Clean Air Act at the top of the <br />Corigressional environmental agenda dur- <br />ing much of the year, we had many oppor- <br />tunities to provide infonnation on the' po- <br />tential for energy efficiency and'renewables <br />as important and economically'competitive <br />emisSion control strategies for acid rain and " <br />, greenhouse gases: EFSl's working group on <br />energy efficiency and renewables helped <br />key players in the debate; an example was <br />im amendment, offered by Congressmen <br />Ed Markey (D-MasS.) and Carlos Moor, ' <br />head (R-Calif:), which contained important <br />incentives for.electric utilities to utilize' en- <br />ergy efficiency and renewable energy as a <br />way of cutting acid rain. It is in'the new law. <br /> <br />the 'working group produced an alterna- <br />tive renewable research an<;l'development <br />budget for the Energy Department and <br />helped attain a $30 million increase in ap- <br />propriations for fiscal year].991. We also <br />worked with CongresSional Members and <br />staff to require the An:hitcct of the Capitol <br />begin improving the lighting efficiency of <br />Congressional buildings. We worked to- <br />'ward the issuance of an executive order on <br />energy efficiency in all federal facilities. <br /> <br />Before mid-year, the issue of automobile <br />fuel efficiency was separated from the clean <br />air debate, and EESI staff spent consider-' , <br />able time and effort providing ideas for <br />hearings, making recommendations and <br />holding numerous briefings. A measure of- <br />fered by Senator Richard Bryan (D-Nev.) <br />came surprisingly close to adoption by the <br />Senate. Its sponsors ended the session corn, <br />mitted to moving the fuel efficiency mea- <br />sure during 1991, when Congress would be <br />free of the tensions over the Clean Air Act <br /> <br />EESI held educational programs, on a broad <br />range of el)ergy policy options and the toch- <br />nologies available 'and under development. <br />The relationship between greenhouse gases <br />and conventiorul! air pollutants and the po- <br />tential of energy efficiency and renewables <br />to reduce both global and local pollutants <br />- in all economic sectors - has remained <br />the ceriterpiece of EESl's education efforts. <br />One "Members-<lnly" luncheon explored <br />the pros and cons of pollution taxes as an <br />option for reducing air pollutants and pro- <br />moting energy efficiency. ' <br /> <br />We set new records for the number of <br />events and attendance, and had surprising <br />success in tirirlng them appropriately. Just " <br />after the onset of the Persian Gulf crisis, we <br />brought to Capitol Hill a broad range of ex- <br />, perts to discuss energy policy and the Gulf, <br />, and'heIda briefing on electric vehicles and <br />their potential to meet both clean air and ' <br />energy security goals. <br /> <br />As Carol said at year-end, "most rewarding <br />was the extent to which EESI is now' being <br />, sought out by it broad variety of Congres- <br />sional offices and groups for in1onnation <br />and ideas. Our role as a catalyst enables US <br />to extend our reach far beyond our oWn of- <br />fice." - <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />In anticipation of the Surface Transporta- <br />tion Act reauthorization, work began On <br />forming 'a coalition to bring environmental <br />and energy issues to the forefront of that de-' <br />, bate. EESI was asked to set up an organiza- <br />, tional meeting, which Carol and Beth <br />staffed. Nearly 100 people attended; 79 or- <br />ganizations were represented, many from <br />well beyond Washington. The meeting <br />launched the Surface Transportation Policy <br />Project, and EESI serves on th,e steering <br />committee. ' <br /> <br />Water <br /> <br />During the past year, EESl has <br />. inade its major impact on water <br />, policy by focusing on the connec- <br />tion between groundwater quality arid agri- , <br />culture policy. We are still pwsuing compre- <br />hensivegroundwater protection strategies <br />where they mal<;e sense; indeed, many of, <br />our objectives were included in research <br />and technical assistance legislation that <br />