Schlegal is an Arizona representative of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.
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The scorecard rated Texas poorly in energy efficiency policies for utilities.
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy State Policy Manager Annie Gilleo, the report’s lead author, said their research found that it’s the states that are developing innovative efficiency programs.
Only Massachusetts has a higher average annual target for electric savings for 2015 to 2020, with a goal of 2.6 percent in average annual savings.
States are given an overall ranking, and they are ranked separately in six categories. New York (ranked #9) set higher energy savings targets and aims to increase year after year. And it’s hitting them. Oregon and Rhode Island tied for fourth. All of these states have appeared in the top five in the past.
“Arizona has done a lot to move the ball forward on energy efficiency in recent years”, Bahr said. He said retrofitting older buildings with more energy-efficient systems and creating more stringent building codes for new construction will go a long way toward helping the state meet the goals outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.
Clifford Rechtschaffen, senior advisor on climate, energy and environmental issues, Office of California Governor Jerry Brown, State of California said: “This year Governor Brown called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 by 2030 to deal with the threat of climate change”.
While Massachusetts takes the lead in the scorecard, most New England states are strongly ranked.
“Nebraska has made targeted efforts to ensure building energy code compliance, but its lack of a comprehensive array of efficiency policies has held the state back on energy efficiency”, the organization said. “We applaud the award winners’ leadership in keeping Massachusetts on the road to a clean affordable and resilient energy future”.
The group says Massachusetts kept its top ranking based on a strong commitment to energy efficiency under its Green Communities Act.
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Beaton adds that the Northeast is uniquely positioned due to specific energy challenges relative to other states. “It’s a triple-win for environment, the economy and the end users who enjoy lower costs and more effective energy use”. It helps us to address our peak demand times. “So energy efficiency across the board just helps us to address all of the things that we are trying to accomplish with our energy policy”. Electricity efficiency programs last year saved the equivalent of 0.7 percent of total retail electricity sales for the year across the nation, which is a 5.8 percent increase over 2013. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast.
