NEMA’s government relations activity centers on developing, analyzing, advocating, and supporting the implementation of government policies and legislation for increasing energy efficiency and electric supply in the United States.

NEMA has been directly involved in national and state energy legislation. NEMA contributed to President Clinton’s U.S. Climate Change Action Plan and President Bush's National Energy Policy. We work to help develop and support energy-efficiency programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

S. 1000, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (112^th Congress)

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Rob Portman (R-OH) have led the Senate’s efforts in increasing energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, and increasing the competitiveness of American manufacturers.  NEMA has worked closely with the sponsors to ensure this legislation has a powerful impact on the economy.  Some major components of the bill encourage state adoption of energy codes, establish loan programs for commercial building and industrial facility energy-efficiency investments, and create a rebate program for purchase of NEMA Premium energy efficient transformers. 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Tax Incentives

Summary (136 pages) of Energy-Related Tax Provisions And Proposed Modifications Contained In The President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget.  The document was prepared by the Joint Committee on Taxation for the House Ways and Means Committee April 14, 2010 hearing on energy tax incentives. Contains NEMA-backed energy provisions including the commercial building tax deduction and 30% investment tax credit for advanced manufacturing.

• Summary of Energy Tax Incentives 2010 (693k)

NEMA-Advocated Provisions Included in Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

On December 19, 2007, President George W. Bush signed H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, into law (Public Law 110-140).  NEMA was actively engaged and has spearheaded negotiations of several provisions important to NEMA member companies.

This legislation improved our nation’s energy policies by creating new energy efficiency standards, increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, increasing the mandated use of ethanol and biofuels, encouraging “Smart Grid” technology, encouraging carbon sequestration research, and expanding high-performance commercial and federal buildings.

• NEMA Summary and Analysis of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (201k)

NEMA Side-by-Side Energy Bill Comparison

The Energy Bill Side-by-Side Comparison  analyzes provisions of interest to NEMA as contained in the House and Senate Energy Bills of the 110th Congress.  Click here for a printer-friendly version.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (H.R. 3221)

On August 4, 2007, the House of Representatives passed two energy bills containing key NEMA provisions. H.R. 3221 New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act of 2007 passed 241-172 and H.R. 2776 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 passed 221-189. NEMA provisions that were included are new federal energy conservation standards for premium electric motors, metal halide lighting fixtures, incandescent reflector bulbs, and stand-by power. Additional provisions support deployment of the “smart grid,” high-performance “green” buildings, and federal procurement of energy efficient products.

On the tax side, H.R. 2776 contained the important extension of the energy efficiency Commercial Building Tax Deduction through 2013, and a new provision providing five-year accelerated depreciation for advanced electricity meters. Upon final passage, the two bills were merged and now must be reconciled with Senate energy legislation passed in June 2007.

• Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (1,526k)

Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 (H.R. 6)

The Senate passed on June 21, 2007, by a vote of 65-27, H.R. 6 The Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act 2007, which contained NEMA-backed provisions on new energy efficiency standards, smart grid deployment, energy savings performance contracts, and high performance buildings. The bill does not contain an energy tax title (see item below).

• Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 (823k)

Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007 (Senate Tax Package)

The Senate Finance Committee passed an energy tax incentive package on June 19, 2007, and it was offered as an amendment to H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2007, during Senate floor debate on June 21. However, the tax amendment failed by a 57-36 vote to be added to the underlying bill (it needed 60 votes for cloture). The Senate Finance measure contained several NEMA provisions including an extension of the commercial building tax deduction (through 2013 at $2.25 per square foot) and 7-year accelerated depreciation for smart meters.

• Energy Advancement and Investment Act of 2007 (438k)

Energy Savings Act of 2007 (S. 1321)

On May 2, 2007, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved bipartisan legislation that improves efficiency, promotes renewable fuels diversity, and invests in groundbreaking research on carbon sequestration, by a vote of 20 to 3. This bill draws text from pending energy legislation: S. 987 on biofuels and transportation, S. 1115 on energy efficiency, and S. 731 and S. 962 on carbon capture and storage.

• Energy Savings Act of 2007 (380k)

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (HR 6)

fter four years of effort, EPAct 2005 became law and included key NEMA provisions.  See information on the links below.

• NEMA Assessment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (672 kb)
• Efficiency Built-In: The Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction (68 kb)
• EPAct 2005 Electricity Infrastructure Presentation (147 kb) 
• DOE Regulations on Product Efficiency Implementing Energy Policy Act of 2005 (106 kb)
• HR 6 Conference Report
• Summary of NEMA key provisions in HR 6
• Summary of the $14.5 Billion tax title in HR 6
• Comments to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in reference to Consideration of Energy Legislation (329k) Comments with regard to energy policy legislation pending before the Energy and Commerce Committee in form of the conference agreement to H.R. 6, The Energy Policy Act of 2003, as considered by the 108th Congress, February 2005.