Rep. Upton vows efficiency bill action if Senate plan advances

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) is vowing to move bipartisan energy efficiency legislation through his committee if the Senate can pass a bill.

“They are looking soon in the Senate at moving an energy efficiency bill for federal buildings that has broad bipartisan support over there, and we have some pretty early bipartisan support in the House too,” Upton said on C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program airing this weekend.

“I have talked to Senator [Ron] Wyden,” Upton said, referring to the Oregon Democrat that leads the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “If they are able to move their bill soon, we are going to take it up in our committee.”

A GOP aide said Upton’s likely referring to the bipartisan energy efficiency bill sponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

It has provisions to boost efficiency in federal buildings but also contains several other pieces. It would encourage stronger commercial building codes, train workers in energy efficient building technologies, and help manufacturers become more efficient.

The plan stalled on the Senate floor in September but backers are trying to revive it. Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have cosponsored a House companion measure.