PROCLAMATION 4681—SEPT. 10, 1979
93 STAT. 1535
Energy problems facing us in the United States are similar to those facing other industrialized nations, as well as many of the world's less developed countries. The fundamental problem domestically and internationaly is that demand for petroleum is increasing faster than the capacity to produce it. As the world's major consumer of energy, it is essential that the United States become a leader in conserving energy by curtailing unnecessary and wasteful uses, by improving the efficiency with which we use energy for essential purposes and by switching from increasingly scarce petroleum and petroleum products to more abundant alternate sources. To this end, I have announced a program of import quotas to see that the commitment we made at the Tokyo Summit will be achieved. We must also reduce our imports through vigorous and sustained conservation of energy. This task has already begun. The National Energy Act I pro- 42 USC 8201 posed, which was enacted last November, includes: note. —a $300 residential energy conservation tax credit, which the taxpayer can claim for the purchase of insulation and other energy-saving measures; —a residential insulation service which local utilities must provide beginning in the fall of 1980, to provide energy evaluations of homes and to arrange loan financing for installation of insulation; —a 10% investment tax credit for equipment used to conserve energy by improving the efficiency of industrial plants; —weatherization grants for low-income households; —a 5% reduction in annual energy use by each Federal department, including mandatory building temperature standards and a 10% reduction in automobile fuels; —a $900 million grant program to provide 50% of the cost of energy conservation measures for schools and hospitals; —a $65 million grant program to provide technical assistance and energy audits for local government and other public buildings; —mandatory non-residential building temperature restrictions; —mandatory automobile fuel economy standards for each model year through 1985; and —a "gas guzzler tax" on automobiles failing to meet fuel efficiency standards, beginning with the 1980 model year. I also have proposed, and Congress will consider: —a major program to make residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient; —$16.5 billion in new Federal funding over the coming decade for mass transportation systems and improved automobile efficiency. These latter programs will be funded by the proposed Windfall Profits Tax. The effectiveness of our efforts to conserve energy in the years ahead will have substantial impact on both the Nation's ability to meet future energy needs at home and on the stability of social, political and economic institutions around the world. In response to the recognized need to conserve energy, the 20 member countries of the International Energy Agency, including the United States, have designated the month of October 1979 as International Energy Conservation Month. The objectives of International Energy Conservation Month
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