The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee met yesterday to hear testimony on bills that would make household appliances more energy efficient and repeal a ban on 100-watt incandescent light bulbs.
Most of the discussion revolved around the heated light bulb debate, which Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) acknowledged is a largely symbolic one.
"Light bulbs have really become a hot topic around the Hill now," said Murkowski, the committee's ranking member, right before the testimonies. "They have become more of a symbol of the overreach of big government. I can sympathize with that."
The light bulb bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), seeks to repeal a ban on incandescent light bulbs that use 100 watts or more set to go into effect next year. The ban came as part of legislation added to an omnibus energy bill passed in 2007.
Of the seven people who testified, most were members from energy industry trade groups. All opposed the repeal of the light bulb ban, except Howard Brandston, a lighting designer. In his testimony, Branston said the 2007 provision is a "de facto ban on incandescent light bulbs" that will "have a significant negative impact on almost every residence in our country."
"Some of the most knowledgeable people I know have begun to stockpile a lifetime supply of incandescent lamps to protect themselves from the need to use compact fluorescent lamps," Brandston said.
Much of the discussion revolved around whether the light bulb ban would restrict consumer choices. Kathleen Hogan, the deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency at the Department of Energy, repeatedly stated that the ban won't apply to all incandescent bulbs, but to those that use 100 watts or more.
"It's not a ban," Hogan said. "It sets performance levels for light bulbs by asking them to be 30 percent more efficient."
Hogan added that a number of different light bulbs, including incandescents, already meet those standards.
Later on, Kyle Pitsor of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and Steven Nadel of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy echoed that point by bringing bulbs that would work under the new regulations. They included energy-efficent incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED bulbs.
"I'm sitting here with four or five different light bulbs by every manufacturer, who are going to get out there and compete," said Mark Cooper, a researcher at the Consumer Federation of America.
"And if dimmability is so important," Cooper continued, referring to a common perception that incandescents give off a more attractive glow, "then that incandescent which meets the standard will win in the marketplace."
At one point in the hearing, committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) pointed out that the committee room is the first in Congress to switch all its lights to LEDs.
Two similar bills have been introduced in the House. One, introduced by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), carries the same "Better Use of Light Bulbs" title. Another was introduced by Rep. Michele Bachmann. Both have been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Its chairman, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), co-authored the 2007 legislation that bans 100-watt bulbs. An Energy and Commerce committee aide said Upton will work with committee to "learn all the facts about what has happened in the market since enactment of the law."
The bill that didn't receive as much attention seeks tougher efficiency standards on about 20 household appliances, including air conditioners and water dispensers. Congress has tweaked appliance standards five times since 1987 in similar measures. The bill failed in the Senate by one vote during the lame-duck session this past December.
Each witness spoke in favor of it except Brandston, who didn't comment on it.
Joseph McGuire, president of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, said the bill would save "more than 9 quads of energy over 30 years and save consumers billions of dollars in reduced energy bills."
He added that under it, clothes washers and dishwashers would use 5 trillion less gallons of water over the next 30 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 550 million metric tons.
Most of the senators remained mum on the issue, except for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who made his opposition to both measures clear when addressing DOE's Hagen.
"You're really anti-choice on every consumer item that you've listed here, including light bulbs, refrigerators, toilets, you name it," he told her. "You restrict my purchases. You don't care about my choices. You don't care about the consumer, frankly."
