With a lack of federal action over the last decade, US states launched their own initiatives to improve energy efficiency, promote alternative energy sources and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A new report by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) profiles the work of 12 states to explore and expand
new techniques for promoting clean energy.
Each of the states highlighted was selected for participation in the Clean Energy States Grant Program, as part of the Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative.
"States are key actors in the push towards a cleaner, more secure energy future," said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center. "The accomplishments of these states provide concrete examples of how states from across the country–with varying natural resource and economic conditions–can advance energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation fuels."
The states profiled in the report took a variety of approaches to advancing clean energy with a focus on: improving energy efficiency in new buildings; improving energy efficiency in existing buildings; expanding renewable electricity generation and distribution; or promoting cleaner transportation fuels and vehicles.
Examples of the progress seen in some of the participating states include:
- Creation of a fully operational carbon emissions offset program
- A comprehensive study of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol from various sources
- A multi-year strategy for reducing home heating oil use through increased weatherization outreach, training and deployment
- The design and implementation of a full spectrum of statewide demand reduction and energy efficiency programs
- Training of one-quarter of a state’s building code officials in energy code enforcement
- A GIS-enabled Web application to help identify promising locations for renewable energy resources and transmission needs.
"Advancing Clean Energy: A Report on the Clean Energy States Grant Program" is available as a pdf at the link below.
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