Energy efficiency measures are thriving in state capitals around the U.S., with several states taking major steps that have improved their ranks in the seventh annual “State Energy Efficiency Scorecard,” recently released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). For the first time in the history of the scorecard, the 2013 ranking of the states is being released with the participation of a U.S. Department of Energy secretary, Ernest Moniz, Ph.D., along with a top elected official of a state, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
The State Scorecard shows that the top 10 states for energy efficiency are: Massachusetts, California, New York, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Maryland, and Illinois. Massachusetts retains the top spot for the third consecutive year, reportedly 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 the state to identify several strategies for smart growth, keeping it in the number-two spot. 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, reaping the benefits of increased energy savings called for in the state’s energy efficiency resource standard.