FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2020
Contacts:
Howard Geller, Executive Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), hgeller@swenergy.org | 720-313-9337
Josh Valentine, Communications Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), jvalentine@swenergy.org | 303-304-7613
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[BOULDER, CO] – Nevada is recognized as the Most Improved State in the 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Nevada gained 5.5 points and moved from 26th place in 2019 to 21st place in 2020. Nevada’s rise resulted from the Silver State ramping up energy savings from utility energy efficiency programs, adopting new building energy codes and lamp efficiency standards, and announcing it will adopt the Clean Car Standards to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and accelerate electric vehicle deployment.
New Mexico also significantly boosted its ranking in the 2020 Scorecard. New Mexico gained 4.5 points and moved from 33rd place in 2019 to 24th place in 2020 — the biggest jump of any state. New Mexico advanced thanks to new policies to boost utility energy efficiency programs as well as support for vehicle electrification, adoption of a state-of-the-art mandatory building energy code, and movement towards adoption of the Clean Car Standards.
“We applaud the steps taken by Nevada and New Mexico to strengthen their energy efficiency policies and programs, which in turn will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits for families and businesses in each state. In addition, the new energy efficiency initiatives will improve air quality, public health, and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said Howard Geller, Executive Director of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP). SWEEP assisted policymakers in both states in developing and advancing the new laws, regulations and programs that were recognized by ACEEE in its 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
Colorado continued its strong showing in the 2020 Scorecard as the leader amongst states in the Southwest, gaining 3.5 points and moving from 14th place in 2019 to 11th place in 2020. Colorado gained points for adoption of Clean Car Standards including the Zero Emission Vehicles program, as well as for increased utility energy efficiency targets and new efforts to increase energy efficiency in buildings.
Utah remained in 22nd place in the 2020 Scorecard while Arizona dropped from 19th place to 23rd place. Arizona lost points in the categories of Utility Policies and Programs and Transportation Policies. However, ACEEE identified Arizona as the “State to Watch” in the Southwest given that the Arizona Corporation Commission recently voted to extend and expand the state’s energy efficiency resource standard and set a 100% carbon free electricity standard. SWEEP expects Arizona to regain ground in next year’s Scorecard because of these new policies.
Wyoming ranked last among all states and the District of Columbia in the 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the same position it held in 2019.
“While the 2020 ACEEE Scorecard highlights the progress made in several southwest states, all states in the region should continue to strengthen their energy efficiency policies and programs in order to reap even greater economic and environmental benefits,” Geller said.
The annual ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard ranks states based on their energy efficiency policies and achievements in a variety of areas including utility policies and programs, transportation policies, building energy efficiency policies, and state government initiatives.
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The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. For more information, visit swenergy.org.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is a national organization that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For more information, visit aceee.org.
