Bipartisan legislation that focused on energy efficiency such as water heaters with smart meters, ways to reduce home utility bills, and cheaper heating and cooling systems failed in the U.S. Senate. Proposed by Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) didn’t make it to a vote after an amendment was added to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline extension ahead of the Obama Administration’s decision on whether the pipeline should be permitted. As a result, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) refused to allow a vote on a Keystone pre-approval amendment to the bill, and the amendment’s supporters retaliated by blocking a vote on the main bill.
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