Past versions of the ACEEE Scorecard have ranked states on utility-sector energy-efficiency spending; however, this report is a new and expanded effort to rank states on a broad array of policy initiatives, including appliance and equipment standards, building energy codes, transportation and land use policies, and other policy innovations that are increasing U.S. energy security while sustaining economic prosperity and protecting the environment.
According to the report, Vermont, Connecticut and California lead the nation in energy-efficiency policy, all tying for the top spot. Rounding out the top 10 are Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, New York and New Jersey in spots four through eight, respectively, and Rhode Island and Minnesota tying for ninth.
“States are leading the nation in mining efficiency as the ‘first fuel’ in the race to solve America’s energy security and global warming challenges,” said ACEEE acting executive director Bill Prindle, and co-author of the Scorecard. “Unless we accelerate the pace of efficiency investment, no clean energy strategy will work.”
The new report was issued as Congress takes up pending federal energy legislation this month, which is viewed as “a crucial opportunity to adopt energy efficiency policies proven in these top-ranking states to help address perhaps the preeminent public policy concern of our day,” said Maggie Eldridge, ACEEE policy program research assistant, who also co-authored the report.
To recognize leadership among the states and identify best practices, ACEEE (www.aceee.org) developed The State Energy-Efficiency Scorecard for 2006 as a comprehensive ranking of state energy-efficiency policies.
“This report puts the spotlight on the best and least performing states, but it also highlights the critical need for sweeping federal action to apply best energy efficiency practices and policies nationwide,” Prindle said. “Only until federal, state and local governments join forces to put their collective arms around this enormous problem will we see uniform progress” on:
- Fuel economy standards for vehicles
- Energy-efficiency resource standards for utilities
- Appliance efficiency standards
- Building energy codes
- Combined heat and power (CHP) technologies
- Smart growth and public transportation policies
- Tax incentives for efficient technologies
- Energy efficiency in public buildings and fleets
“Congress is considering provisions on all of these fronts,” Prindle said. “The message that comes from the states’ patchwork approach to energy efficiency standards and practices is that the time is long overdue for the federal government and the nation to get moving to close the gaps in our nation’s energy policy through which our energy security and our efforts to curb global warming are undermined.”
“The top 10 states earn the highest scores due to their records of spending on energy efficiency programs, building codes and appliances standards, and other programs that work to increase investment in energy efficiency,” said Eldridge. “The next 15 states that trail behind the top 10 all have policies to increase efficiency in state-owned facilities, and most are committing funds to energy efficiency programs plus adopting codes and standards. The bottom 26 states, however, seriously lag behind the rest. We hope that highlighting the leaders in our Scorecard will encourage the laggards to catch up with the front runners as if our lives depended on it – because it does.”
The report, The State Energy-Efficiency Scorecard for 2006, is available for free download at www.aceee.org/pubs/e075.htm or a hard copy can be purchased for $35 plus $5 postage and handling from ACEEE Publications, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036-5525, phone: 202-429-0063, fax: 202-429-0193, e-mail: aceee_publications@aceee.org.
For more information, check out other related ACEEE reports.
- Energy Efficiency and Resource Standards: Experience and Recommendations: www.aceee.org/pubs/e063.htm
- The Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Synergies between Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology and Policy: www.aceee.org/pubs/e074.htm
- Examining the Peak Demand Impacts of Energy Efficiency: A Review of Program Experience and Industry Practices: www.aceee.org/pubs/u071.htm
- Potential for Energy Efficiency, Demand Response, and Onsite Renewable Energy to Meet Texas's Growing Electricity Needs: www.aceee.org/pubs/e073.htm
