Rocky Mountain States Lag Behind In Energy Efficiency
A clean energy report released Tuesday ranks states on their green energy-friendly policies, and some parts of the Rocky Mountain region are lagging behind coastal states.
Wyoming pulled in last place in this year’s Energy Efficiency Scorecard with North Dakota alongside it. Montana ranked somewhere in the middle at slot 36.
The nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy compiles its report on a yearly basis and scores all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on policy and government programs, like clean energy incentives, public benefit programs, and low emissions transportation policies.
Lead author Weston Berg says Montana ranked much the same on energy efficiency as in previous years.
“The states that we see achieving higher levels of savings are those that have provided performance incentives to reward and encourage utilities to achieve savings targets,” says Berg.
Montana’s scorecard points out that the state hasn’t set long-term energy savings goals or established policies to decrease vehicle emissions or increase the use of electric cars.
The 13th annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard lists Massachusetts, California, and Rhode Island as the most energy efficient states. It scores Wyoming, North Dakota, and West Virginia as the least energy efficient states.
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