State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act of 1990
Public Law 101-440 · S. 247 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 18, 1990 · Energy
Sponsor: Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH)
Cosponsors (41): Sen. Warren Rudman, Sen. Claiborne Pell,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to mandate that each State energy conservation plan which receives Federal assistance under the Act contain a specified improvement in energy efficiency as one of its goals.
Adds to Federal assistance eligibility prerequisites for proposed State energy conservation plans. Requires a supplemental emergency planning program for energy supply disruptions. Requires State assurances that Federal financial assistance will be used to supplement and not supplant State and local funds. Permits a State to use available Federal financial assistance to develop and conduct the energy emergency planning program requirements. Cites optional State energy conservation programs.
Repeals the mandate for supplemental State energy conservation plans.
Revises requirements of State Energy Technology Commercialization Services programs to emphasize service to small or start-up businesses.
Establishes within the Department of Energy (DOE) a State Energy Advisory Board to: (1) make recommendations regarding energy efficiency objectives; (2) encourage technology transfer of Federal research and development results with respect to energy efficiency and renewable energy resources; (3) serve as liaison between the States and DOE on energy programs; and (4) submit an annual status report to the Congress.
Authorizes the use of loan programs and performance contracting for the non-Federal share of energy conservation project costs for schools and hospitals. Repeals the prohibition against the use of Federal grants for energy conservation measures in school administration buildings.
Sets forth circumstances under which a State may use specified Federal funds for program and technical assistance and marketing costs associated with leveraging of non-Federal funds for energy conservation programs.
Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to list the cooling measures that are eligible for Federal assistance under the Weatherization Assistance Program. Mandates that States participating in the low-income weatherization assistance program (WAP) ensure that: (1) weatherization assistance benefits accrue primarily to low-income tenants; and (2) such tenants are not subjected to rental increases unless they are demonstrably unrelated to weatherization measures. Requires the Secretary to update annually the data used for allocating weatherization assistance funds.
Cites conditions under which the Secretary may approve a State application for a waiver of: (1) the requirement that at least 40 percent of Federal weatherization assistance for low-income persons be used for weatherization materials; and (2) the limitations placed upon expenditures per dwelling unit for weatherization measures.
Terminates the Performance Fund used for State weatherization assistance.
Conditions Federal low-income weatherization assistance upon the establishment of State plans and procedures for using such assistance to increase the portion of low-income weatherization assistance that the State obtains from non-Federal sources, including private sources. Sets forth additional requirements for the Secretary's annual weatherization assistance report to the Congress and the President.
Outlines an incentives program under which the Secretary may allocate funds: (1) beginning in FY 1992 to provide supplementary financial assistance to those States with the best low-income weatherization assistance performance; and (2) beginning in FY 1991 among the States in equal portions so that they may make supplementary financial assistance to grant recipients with the best low-income weatherization assistance performance record.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1993 for: (1) State energy conservation plans; and (2) energy conservation for schools and hospitals.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1994 for the weatherization assistance program.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Energy Subcommittee
Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Oct 18, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-440.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 4, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 1, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · A similar measure H.R. 711 was laid on the table without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 711. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 12, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jan 29, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jan 25, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Jan 10, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Nov 15, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- May 2, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 26, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Jan 25, 1989IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.