Business Leaders Say 'No' To BULB Act Repealing Light Bulb Energy-Saving Law

GreenTracker| Americans are hoarding incendescent light bulbs as new Federal legislation kicks in beginning in 2012, designed to reduce energy consumption — whether Americans want it or not. Republicans are focused on repealing the order, sponsoring the BULB (Better Use of Light Bulbs) act.

Sen Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky argues that Americans cannot be mandated to do any energy savings and that improved energy standards on appliances have sent jobs overseas.

Appliance and lighting industry representatives and efficiency experts, however, testified that tougher energy-efficiency standards had prompted an industrywide retooling. That retooling, they said, created many thousands of new jobs in the US and increased consumer choice of light bulbs.

“We are proud that our industry is one of the very few US industries that enjoys an over $2 billion positive balance of trade,” said Stephen Yurek, president of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, a trade association. “We build equipment here in North America and export it to nations around the world.” The manufacturing side of the industry, he said, accounts for 250,000 American jobs, plus 1 million more maintainance, distribution, and installation jobs. via Christian Science Monitor

The National Electric Manufacturers Association doesn’t want BULB passed. They’ve upgraded factories and say that it’s not true that the new legislation bans incandescent light bulbs. Consumers will still be able to purchase an incandescent light bulb, one that is 28 percent more efficient.

As for jobs lost to the new federal regulations, Stephen Yurek, president of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, a trade association says Rand’s argument is totally inaccurate.

“We are proud that our industry is one of the very few US industries that enjoys an over $2 billion positive balance of trade. We build equipment here in North America and export it to nations around the world.” The manufacturing side of the industry, he said, accounts for 250,000 American jobs, plus 1 million more maintainance, distribution, and installation jobs.

It seems that business is on President Obama’s side, in terms of mandates that ‘force’ Americans to consider new ideas and ways of saving energy. You can rest assured that none of the industry positions are being discussed on talk radio, which tends to be well — close-minded.

Being urban-minded, damn liberal (although Anne is definitely a moderate), women libbers entrepreneurs at AOC, we think the folks at Solvyo Design could give each member of Congress their new energy-efficient brain lamp. For the sponsors of the BULB act, we request two — one for their office and another for the night stand.

Perhaps the infinite wisdom of of these amazing ‘Insight’ brain bulbs will light up the minds in Washington. Remember vast numbers of Congress could care less about green energy. They don’t even believe the world has an energy crisis.

There is no doubt in our minds that Americans will not reduce our energy consumption unless new legislation is forced down our throats. We believe we are top dog and have the right of dominion over the world’s resources. God gave us that right and people should learn to accept it.