The ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) has released its 2012 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. According to their findings, Texas didn't do so well.
The report ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to their policies and programs regarding the use of energy in buildings, transportation, and industry. This year, Texas is ranked #33.
"The report examines six of the primary policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and “public benefits” programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power (CHP) policies; state government-led initiatives around energy efficiency; and appliance and equipment standards. The baseline year against which ACEEE assessed policy and program changes varies by policy category. Policy scores are based on policies in place as of September 2012."
The only southern states to make the top 25 were Maryland (#9) and North Carolina (#22). According to the ACEEE, the nation's leader in energy efficiency is Massachusetts. Bringing up the rear is Mississippi.
This is the fifth year of the ACEEE Scorecard, and they claim that each year the states are rapidly moving forward in their energy efficiency policies.
Texas has dropped 14 points since 2008, when it was ranked #19.
Oklahoma was one of three states cited by the study as "most improved," ranked at #39.
