US Senate Committee Approves Bill To Potentially Reenergize $2.5 billion Incandescent Light Market

The US Senate effort to expand employer and consumer choice in the form of lighting their facilities and home will face supply chain and manufacturing challenges according to industry testimony before the Senate voted in favor of consumer choice by passing S. 1568 entitled “Liberating Incandescent Technology’ Act according to reporting in Politico and Facilities Dive.

Citing an interest in rolling back 2024 US Department of Energy rules implementing 2007 era legislation which phased out the incandescent bulbs which have been the primary source of electric light since its invention, the Senate sponsor of the bill, Sen. Mike Lee stated his interest was in providing the greatest availability and opportunity for facilities and consumers to decide how to consume energy.

Since the initial restrictions on incandescent lighting were first passed in 2007 there have been numerous advancements in LED and incandescent lighting technology from LED that together have all but replaced previous fluorescent and other technologies.

During testimony, industry representatives stated concerns that the size of the overall market may not justify the investment in domestic supply chains to produce newer incandescent bulbs. The overall market for lighting was roughly $140 billion with incandescent bulbs still selling roughly $2.5 billion annually.

The House version of the bill, HR 3341 was introduced in May and is awaiting a hearing in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Facility lighting is a basic component in the operation of any organization. The Association of Western Employers will continue to track this legislation and similar efforts to expand the ability of organizations to access the best technology for their specific needs.