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Scorecard Homepage | Audio of live press event
Washington, D.C. (October 13, 2010): Even as Congress failed to take major action on climate and energy legislation in 2010, states across the United States achieved major new strides in energy efficiency, according to the 2010 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the nonprofit and independent American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Among the major state advances highlighted in the fourth edition of the ACEEE Scorecard are: a near doubling of state energy efficiency budgets from 2007 spending levels; the adoption or active consideration by over half the states of Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) that establish long-term, fixed efficiency savings targets; and a one-year doubling of the number of states that have either adopted or have made significant progress toward the adoption of the latest energy-saving building codes for homes and commercial properties. (See details below.)
The key state-specific rankings in the 2010 ACEEE Scorecard are as follows:
ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said: “Even as Washington dawdles on climate and clean energy, states are moving ahead with considerable vigor on these vital matters, with energy efficiency initiatives leading the way. In particular, states are moving forward and advancing energy efficiency policies and programs in an effort to create jobs and stimulate their economies during a period of considerable economic uncertainty. While $11 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds was helpful in this process and there were setbacks in a few states, the overall story here is one of states getting done what Congress has so far failed to do.”
New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary James Noel said: “New Mexico has taken a number of steps under the leadership of Governor Richardson to improve energy efficiency, including making sure new buildings are constructed to higher energy-saving standards and boosting utility energy-saving programs and services. These steps will save consumers energy and money and create good local jobs that can’t be outsourced.”
DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Kathleen Hogan said: "States have a critical role to play in supporting job creation and economic growth as part of America's clean energy economy. Under the Recovery Act, states across the country are making major investments in clean energy technologies and innovative approaches to improving energy efficiency that will continue to benefit our homes and businesses for years to come."
Arizona Corporation Commission Chair Kris Mayes said: "Arizona's move up in the ranks this year reflects the state's hard work doing everything possible to help citizens lower energy bills and increase the state's energy security through greater energy efficiency."
OTHER MAJOR FINDINGS
The full report is available online at www.aceee.org/research-report/e107.
ABOUT THE REPORT/METHODOLOGY
The fourth edition of ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard is a comprehensive state energy efficiency policy Scorecard to document best practices, recognize leadership among the states, and provide a roadmap for other states to follow. The Scorecard benchmarks state efforts on energy efficiency policies and programs with the goal of encouraging states to continue to raise the bar in their efficiency commitments. While several states have been pursuing energy efficiency for decades and are leading the way, several new leaders are quickly emerging by adopting and implementing innovative new efficiency policies. The Scorecard finds that many states can accomplish much more to encourage energy efficiency and cannot afford to be left behind.
The ACEEE report provides a comprehensive assessment of policy and programs that improve energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industry, and transportation sectors. The Scorecard examines six state energy efficiency policy areas and presents these results in six chapters (1) utility and public benefits programs and policies; (2) transportation policies; (3) building energy codes; (4) combined heat and power; (5) state government initiatives; and (6) appliance efficiency standards. States can earn up to 50 possible points in these six policy areas combined, with the maximum possible points in each area weighted by the magnitude of its potential energy savings impact.