Today, the Senate passed the bipartisan Portman-Shaheen Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) as part of broader energy legislation. Senator Portman has received widespread praise for his work over the last five years to pass this bill from Democrats, Republicans, industry leaders, and environmental stakeholders alike. Here’s what some of them are saying about Senator Portman’s leadership on this issue:

• “I am thrilled to be able to join my partner in efficiency, Senator Portman, in addressing the energy efficiency provisions of the Energy Policy Modernization Act… I want to thank Senator Portman for being such a great partner on energy efficiency and for helping to advance this legislation.” – Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

• “I want to thank everybody who’s been cooperative in this process. Clearly we could have had a ‘my way or the highway’ that was taken on the Shaheen-Portman legislation. [Senator Portman] and Senator Shaheen played a large role in past discussions… I want to again thank my two colleagues…Senator Shaheen and Senator Portman... I think that we have taken the good work of these individuals and probably had almost 30 different energy efficiency proposals in this base legislation bill that we have incorporated and now are able to move forward on.” – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

• “The impactful energy efficiency provisions are the product of more than four years of hard work and bi-partisan leadership by Alliance Honorary Chair Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Alliance Vice-Chair Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Alliance Honorary Board member, Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Senator Murkowski (R-Alaska), all of whom refused to give up the fight for American businesses and consumers to benefit from lower energy bills, a cleaner environment and a more energy-secure nation. It’s been a long time coming, but Sens. Shaheen, Portman and Murkowski have won an important victory for all Americans.” – Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy

• “The Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Association of Manufacturers rarely find issues in common, but energy efficiency is just such a political wonder… The energy efficiency provisions in S. 2012, which represent the core of the energy savings and carbon reductions estimated from the entire bill, build on the legislation originally introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH).” – Kit Kennedy, Director, Energy & Transportation Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Portman’s ESIC legislation, along with its previously-enacted provisions, are estimated to create more than 190,000 jobs, save consumers $16.2 billion a year, and cut CO2 emissions and other air pollutants by the equivalent of taking 22 million cars off the road – all by 2030.

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