Last week, the US Senate voted on an amendment to the Keystone Energy bill that would create a new "Tenant Star" energy program. The Tenant Star program authorizes the Department of Energy to develop "best practices" to improve energy efficiency, as well as creates a voluntary program to provide "federal recognition" to tenants who efficiently use energy-- 'cause the market can't provide tenants (and landlords) with incentives to use energy efficiently...oh wait, it can.
This amendment resembles a bill passed overwhelming by the House last year. As I wrote about these "best practices" programs at the time:
Even though no business is forced to adopt the standards, the facts that the government says these are the "best practices" will make many people think these are the best possible standards. They result will be to stifle private efforts to develop innovative ways to increase efficient energy usage. Furthermore, it is doubtful that government bureaucrats could actually develop "best practice" standards for every business in the country. Of course, the main objection to this bill is that nowhere in the United States Constitution is Congress authorized to develop "best practices" for efficient energy use by private property owners.
Thanks to Senators Cruz, Lankford, Lee, Paul, and Sasse for being the only Senators to vote against this amendment.
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PDFTags: Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, US Senate, energy policy