November 12, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its seventh annual State Energy-Efficiency Scorecard, showing that several states have taken major steps that have moved them up in the rankings.

Cambridge, Massachusetts. Credit: Twp/Wikimedia Commons

The top 10 states for energy efficiency are: Massachusetts, California, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Maryland, and Illinois, with Mississippi, Connecticut, Illinois, and West Virginia moving up the ranks due to an increased focus on energy efficiency.

Massachusetts retains the top spot for the third year in a row based on its continued commitment to energy efficiency under its Green Communities Act. In California, requirements for reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have led it to identify several strategies for smart growth. Connecticut is also closing the gap due to passage of a major energy bill in 2013, and Illinois is making its first appearance in the top 10 this year, due to increased energy savings called for in the state's energy efficiency resource standard.

According to the 2013 State Scorecard, the five states most in need of improvement are: North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and Mississippi. However, Mississippi appears on ACEEE's list of the top five most improved states, revealing an upward trend as more and more states embrace energy efficiency. Last year, Mississippi passed comprehensive energy legislation that included provisions for establishing an energy code for commercial and state-owned buildings. Mississippi is now set to become a regional leader in energy efficiency. West Virginia's score improved due to the state adopting stronger building codes. The other three most improved states in 2013 were Maine, Kansas, and Ohio.

"Cutting down on energy waste has become an integral strategy for securing Mississippi's energy future, and we are proud to become the most improved state in this year's State Scorecard," Mississippi Public Service Commissioner and Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners President Brandon Presley said. "Investing in energy efficiency helps utilities meet growing energy demand, provides reliable service for our customers, and produces economic benefits like energy cost savings. We look forward to seeing Mississippi emerge as a regional leader in tapping the vast economic benefits of energy efficiency."

The leading states in utility-sector energy efficiency programs and policies are Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island, according to the report. All three have long records of success and continue to raise the bar on the delivery of cost-effective energy-efficiency programs and policies.

"In every region we are seeing states embrace energy saving measures with growing enthusiasm," said ACEEE Executive Director Steve Nadel. "From Massachusetts, which continues to be the pacesetter in the race to cut down energy waste, to Mississippi, which is emerging as a regional star, state governments are proving that smart policy can still cross partisan divides."

For more:
- download the report

 

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