American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
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| American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy | |
|---|---|
| Name | American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Fields | Energy efficiency, climate policy, building performance |
| Leader title | President |
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit research organization focused on advancing energy efficiency and climate-related policy in the United States. Founded in 1980, it works across sectors including buildings, utilities, transportation, and industry, producing analysis and advocacy that intersect with federal, state, and local decision-making. Its work engages a range of stakeholders from think tanks to municipal governments and nonprofit actors involved in environmental and energy policy.
History
The organization emerged during a period shaped by the aftermath of the 1973 Oil Embargo and the 1979 Energy Crisis, concurrent with policy activity such as the passage of the National Energy Act of 1978 and debates in the United States Congress over energy conservation. Early interactions involved actors including the United States Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and advocacy organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club. During the 1980s and 1990s the group engaged with regulatory institutions such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state regulators within the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. It collaborated with research institutions including the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and coordinated with foundations like the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Over subsequent decades its work intersected with events such as the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the development of the Kyoto Protocol negotiations, and the establishment of programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Structural relationships evolved alongside organizations such as the Urban Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the World Resources Institute.
Mission and Activities
The mission centers on reducing energy waste across sectors through policy research, technical assistance, and outreach to decision-makers including officials in the White House and staff in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Activities routinely intersect with federal agencies like the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Energy. The organization provides analysis cited by state governments, municipal bodies such as the City of New York, and regional entities like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the California Energy Commission. It engages with utilities including Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Consolidated Edison, and industry groups such as the American Gas Association and the Country Energy Council. The group also convenes stakeholders from environmental organizations such as Greenpeace USA, Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation.
Research and Publications
Research outputs include policy briefs, technical reports, and scorecards that reference standards from institutions like the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the International Energy Agency, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Publications have covered appliance standards related to the Energy Star program, building codes aligned with the International Code Council, and transportation efficiency tied to regulations under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The organization’s analyses have been cited alongside work from the Urban Land Institute, the Rand Corporation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Center for American Progress. Outputs target policymakers in entities such as the California Public Utilities Commission and the New York Public Service Commission, and are used by advocacy groups including Earthjustice and ClimateWorks Foundation.
Policy Influence and Advocacy
The organization has provided testimony before congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and submitted comments to regulatory proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. It has advocated for measures that align with legislation such as the Clean Air Act amendments and initiatives tied to the Clean Power Plan. The council’s influence is visible in state-level proceedings at public utility commissions in jurisdictions like California, New York (state), and Massachusetts (Commonwealth of Massachusetts), and in collaborations with coalitions including the National Governors Association and the National League of Cities.
Programs and Partnerships
Programs span benchmarking initiatives, appliance and equipment efficiency campaigns, and building retrofit efforts in partnership with entities like the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Collaborations include municipal partnerships with the City of Chicago and the City of Seattle, utility partnerships with American Electric Power and Duke Energy, and international engagement with organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency. Training and technical assistance have involved universities like Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University, and professional associations including the National Association of Home Builders.
Funding and Organization Structure
Funding sources historically combine grants from philanthropic foundations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, as well as project funding from federal agencies including the Department of Energy and contracts with state governments and utilities. Governance comprises a board of directors drawn from academic institutions like Princeton University and Yale University, private sector firms including Siemens and Schneider Electric, and nonprofit leaders from groups such as Conservation Law Foundation. Staff expertise often overlaps with alumni networks including former officials from the Department of Energy and policy experts from think tanks like the Resources for the Future.