ACEEE Ranks States on Energy Efficiency

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released its State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a 50-state ranking of energy efficiency policies, programs, and practices. The 2009 scorecard ranked California first, with Massachusetts and Connecticut in second and third place respectively.

The third annual report ranks states in six energy efficiency categories: utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies; transportation polices; building energy codes; combined heat and power; state government initiatives; and appliance efficiency standards. States can earn up to 50 possible points in these six policy areas combined.

Fortunately, the economic downturn appears not to have affected many states’ energy efficiency efforts and a number of states improved their standings dramatically. Different states employed different initiatives to improve their scores, including adopting new building energy codes and setting new energy savings targets. Maine moved up 9 spots through the increased efforts of Efficiency Maine (the agency that delivers the state's energy efficiency programs), the adoption of building energy codes, land-use planning management, and other activities.

Maine Governor John E. Baldacci said: "I am pleased that Maine is being recognized for our commitment to energy efficiency. We began by making State government a model in order to show businesses and residents that reducing energy consumption improves our way of life by reducing harmful effects on our environment and our health, while making a significant impact to our bottom line. We made this commitment in 2003 when the price of oil was $20 a barrel. Since then, we've made new investments in weatherization, encouraged alternative modes of transportation, and encouraged voluntary alternative work schedules for State employees, and we became the first state to purchase 100 percent of our electricity from zero carbon renewable resources.”

The report concluded that energy efficiency has risen to a new level of importance and is increasingly addressed at the state level. In the race for clean energy resources, states are adopting aggressive energy efficiency policies, increasing investments in efficiency programs, and improving efficiency in their own facilities and fleets. The report particularly noted that more states, including Delaware, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, are passing laws establishing Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) [pdf], which give utilities mandatory energy savings targets.

ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said: “The states continue to be leaders in advancing energy efficiency policies and programs. In fact, this growing and deepening commitment to energy efficiency is so strong that the current recession has not put a dent in the vast majority of state programs. And that is for good reason: energy efficiency is the only resource that can actually reduce energy consumption while growing the economy – making efficiency the ‘first fuel’ states can use to balance their energy portfolios.”

The 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency are:

1.   California
2.   Massachusetts
3.   Connecticut
4.   Oregon
5.   New York
6.   Vermont
7.   Washington
8.   Minnesota
9.   Rhode Island
10. Maine

“By embracing a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency strategies, the leading states are demonstrating that efficiency is their ’first fuel’ to meet energy demands while growing their economies,” said Maggie Eldridge, ACEEE research associate and lead author of the report. “States continue to raise the bar with comprehensive strategies to improve efficiency in their buildings, industry, and transportation systems. They are the ‘living laboratories’ of energy efficiency.”

Many states improved their scores dramatically from 2008 to 2009, including:

• Maine (up from 19 to 10)
• Colorado (up from 24 to 16)
• Delaware (up from 32 to 20)
• District of Columbia (up from 30 to a tie for 20)
• South Dakota (up from 47 to 36)
• Tennessee (up from 46 to 38)

“The most improved states are stepping up their efforts in several ways, such as adopting new building energy codes and setting aggressive new energy savings targets,” said Eldridge. “By highlighting these most improved states, we hope to encourage others to step up their efforts to implement energy efficiency as their first-priority resource.”

While some states have been making commitments toward energy efficiency for decades, others are just getting started. The states that most need improvement (including some ties) are:

• Arkansas (41)
• Missouri (41)
• Louisiana (41)
• Georgia (44)
• Alaska (45)
• West Virginia (45)
• Nebraska (47)
• Alabama (48)
• Mississippi (49)
• North Dakota (49)
• Wyoming (51, including DC)