Politics & Government

Report Highlights Just How Energy Efficient We Are

Connecticut isn't the best in the nation, but our ranking in a new scorecard is pretty darn close.

Connecticut officials are amped up about a new report that ranks us as the fifth most energy efficient state in the nation.

The scorecard, released this week from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, is a comprehensive analysis of state efforts to support energy efficiency. [The full scorecard is embedded with this article.]

"The 'State Scorecard' serves as a benchmark for state efforts on energy efficiency policies and programs each year, encouraging them to continue strengthening efficiency commitments as a pragmatic and effective strategy for securing environmental benefits and promoting economic growth," the organization states.

The Top Five

  1. Massachusetts
  2. California
  3. New York 
  4. Oregon
  5. Connecticut
"These states continue to comprise the group of truly leading states that have made broad, long-term commitments to developing energy efficiency as a state resource," the ACEEE scorecard states.

The Bottom Five
  • Mississippi
  • Alaska 
  • South Dakota 
  • Wyoming 
  • North Dakota 

Governor Malloy Celebrates Connecticut's Ranking

With news of the report, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued a statement in which he touted his Administration's efforts on the energy efficiency front. In that release, he noted this is the first time since 2009 that Connecticut made the top five. The state tied for sixth the last two years.

“Our state’s ranking this year recognizes our focus on capturing the benefits of energy efficiency to lower monthly electric and natural gas bills for families and businesses,” Malloy said. “Energy efficiency is at the heart of my Comprehensive Energy Strategy because the cheapest energy is the energy that we don’t use through efficiency measures we all can undertake — with every dollar spent on efficiency returning nearly $2.40 in savings on energy bills.”

Connecticut Poised for Further Gains in the Future

Malloy went on to note how the Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has given final approval to a new plan that provides a stepped up investment in efficiency programs.

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“The expansion of our popular efficiency programs is the perfect complement to a new array of innovative and affordable options we have put in place for financing additional energy efficiency investments, such as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) and performance contracting,” Malloy said. “With all of the resources now available to us — including the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, Connecticut’s “green bank” — we will move quickly to capture more of the economic and environmental benefits associated with energy efficiency and become the national leader in this area.”

Malloy said the strengthened focus on efficiency will further reduce energy costs in Connecticut by building on other initiatives that already contributed to a 12 percent decline in the cost of electricity since 2010.

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