Kan.: 46th on energy efficiency
A national energy conservation association produced a report Wednesday ranking Kansas among the country’s worst states in terms of efficiency.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released a scorecard placing Kansas 46th for energy-efficiency policies and programs. Kansas’ status is mirrored by several neighboring states, with Nebraska ranked 47th and Missouri and Oklahoma in a tie at 43rd. Colorado placed 19th in the annual survey.
Steven Nadel, executive director of the energy organization, said states making progress weren’t waiting for national mandates or federal funding to produce energy gains.
“Even as Washington dawdles on climate and clean energy, states are moving ahead with considerable vigor on these vital matters, with energy-efficiency initiatives leading the way,” he said. “In particular, states are moving forward and advancing energy-efficiency policies and programs in an effort to create jobs and stimulate their economies.”
While Kansas is expanding electric production from wind farms, the state is considering construction of a multibillion-dollar coal-fired plant. During the past decade, energy-efficiency programs have struggled to take root.
California retained the No. 1 ranking for the fourth year by outpacing all other states in investment in energy efficiency. The rest of the Top 10: Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota and Maine.
The four most improved states were Utah, tied for 12th and up 11 places; Arizona, ranked 18th and up 11; New Mexico, 22nd and up eight; and Alaska, ranked 37th, up eight.
Arizona Corporation Commission chairwoman Kris Mayes said her state’s commitment to efficiency would delay construction of new baseload energy production until 2030.
“We believe energy efficiency will save our ratepayers billions of dollars,” Mayes said. “It’s the cheapest form of energy we can produce. Every political party in every state in this country should be doing everything it can to maximize this opportunity.”
Major findings from the audit: Near doubling of state energy-efficiency budgets from 2007 levels, adoption or active consideration by more than half the states of long-term, fixed efficiency savings targets and doubling of the number of states that adopted or made progress toward accepting the latest energy-saving building codes for homes and commercial property.
-TIM CARPENTER
