PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island tied with Maryland as the seventh-best state in the nation for energy efficiency, according to a survey released Thursday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
The survey examined data vetted by state energy officials to rank states and the District of Columbia in six policy areas: utility programs, transportation, building energy codes, state initiatives, industrial energy efficiency, and appliance standards. The assessment of industrial energy efficiency policies, as well as an expansion of equity-focused scoring metrics across all policy areas to ensure that state leaders are also enacting equitable clean energy policies, processes and programs, was also considered.
Rhode Island had a total score of 33 out of 50 possible points, including 12.5 out of 15 points for utility and public benefits, 7.5 out of 13 points for transportation policies, 6 out of 12 points for building energy efficiency policies, a perfect 4.5 out of 4.5 points for state government initiatives, 1.5 out of 2.5 points for industrial policies, and 1 out of 3 points for appliance efficiency standards.
California was the most energy efficient state in the nation, according to the survey. The Golden State had a total score of 47 out of 50 points, including a perfect 15 out of 15 points for utility and public benefits, 12 out of 13 points for transportation policies, 10 out of 12 points for building energy efficiency policies, a perfect 4.5 out of 4.5 points for state government initiatives, a perfect 2.5 out of 2.5 points for industrial policies, and a perfect 3 out of 3 points for appliance efficiency standards.
Massachusetts was second-best in the nation and the top New England state, according to the survey. The Bay State had an overall score of 44.5 out of 50 points, including 14 out of 15 points for utility and public benefits, 11.5 out of 13 points for transportation policies, 10.5 out of 12 points for building energy efficiency policies, a perfect 4.5 out of 4.5 points for state government initiatives, a perfect 2.5 out of 2.5 points for industrial policies, and 1.5 out of 3 points for appliance efficiency standards.
New York, Vermont and Maine rounded out the top five. Connecticut was ranked No. 9 and New Hampshire was ranked No. 19.
Wyoming was ranked the least energy efficient state in the nation. That state had an overall score of 2 out of 50 points, only gathering 1 point each for state government initiatives and for utility and public benefits.
