Sen. Shaheen Hosts Policy Roundtable with GPIC

Christine Knapp
Manager of Public and Client Relations
GPIC Hub

Note: This blog is reposted from GPICHUB.org

On Monday, March 19, GPIC hosted a roundtable discussion with two national leaders focused on creating a public policy environment that supports energy efficient retrofits. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) toured the Navy Yard and led a roundtable discussion with high profile experts from industry, academia, economic development agencies and others.

“Sen. Shaheen is a recognized leader on energy efficiency issues, and we’re grateful for her interest and support for GPIC. The roundtable discussion helped GPIC and our allies identify ways in which legislation can help accelerate the market for energy efficient building retrofits” said Dr. Henry C. Foley, Executive Director of GPIC and the Penn State Vice President for Research.

Sen. Shaheen is a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, and introduced the bi-partisan “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act” that would enact a national energy efficiency strategy. She was one of many members of Congress that met with GPIC leadership in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy Town Hall on Energy Innovation Hubs on March 6 in Washington, D.C., in which GPIC participated.

Regional energy businesses in attendance at the roundtable were able to share their experiences and obstacles in market expansion. Topics ranged from the limitations of government tax incentives to learning from the Navy’s commitment to reduce energy use by 50 percent by 2020.

“As the ongoing instability in the Middle East reminds us, we cannot leave our economy vulnerable to energy price shocks caused by events beyond our control, and we cannot compromise our nation’s safety by relying on hostile nations for our energy needs,” said Shaheen. “We must break our addiction to foreign oil, and the fastest, cheapest way to start doing that is by investing in energy efficiency.”

Read a press release on the visit from Sen. Shaheen's office.
Read the original blog at GPICHUB.org