Let’s all stop and applaud California. This year, the state ranks first on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) list of U.S. states that use energy efficiency policies, programs and practices as the first step in improving their economies. Among the top 10 — along with the golden state — are Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.
ACEEE first started ranking states in 2006 as a way to encourage each state to promote energy independence and efficiency. The 2008 scorecard rates and ranks each state on a 50-point scale for their energy efficiency policy initiatives, including:
- Utility-sector and public benefits efficiency programs and policies
- Transportation and land use policies
- Building energy codes
Follow the scorecard tweets to keep current on how your state ranks. And let us know what you think of your state’s performance by posting a comment below.
