Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today in response to the International Code Council (ICC) announcing that it is replacing the current government consensus process for developing energy codes with a standards-based process:
“Today’s action by the ICC will upend the energy code development process and inexplicably remove the voting role of states and local governments. Building energy codes play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas pollution nationwide and are critical to addressing the climate crisis - facts which appear lost on the ICC. Earlier this week I introduced a comprehensive climate bill, the CLEAN Future Act, that tackles the climate crisis by specifically including numerous provisions to make our nation’s building stock more efficient. This is crucial not only for our changing climate, but also for American consumers, who deserve building codes that keep their utility costs low. While I’m extremely disappointed by the action ICC took today, it only compels me further to keep fighting for more efficient homes and buildings for us all."
In January, Chairman Pallone, along with Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette, wrote to the ICC expressing opposition to this proposed change and highlighting deep concerns with the role the housing industry plays on the ICC’s committees.
