PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island has ranked third in the nation for energy efficiency programs and policies, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) 2018 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
The annual ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard assesses state policies and programs that improve energy efficiency in our homes, businesses, industries and transportation systems. Cost-effective energy efficiency is a critical tool for putting downward pressure on electric and natural gas prices, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and spurring economic growth in the clean energy economy. Rhode Island has ranked in the top 10 for the past 10 years, maintaining its number three rank for the second consecutive year.
"I am proud that Rhode Island continues to be a national leader in energy efficiency," said Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo. "Every day, we're continuing to make our energy supply cleaner, more affordable and more reliable. These programs have saved businesses and families over $200 million in the past three years alone, while at the same time helping us fight climate change and creating thousands of new clean energy jobs."
According to the report, "Rhode Island continues to rank high among the top states, with National Grid meeting ambitious savings targets through successful programs outlined in its three-year Least Cost Procurement Plan. Rhode Island continues to look for ways to capture untapped savings through innovative pilot programs and planning efforts intended to achieve zero-energy buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"Once again, Rhode Islanders have shown they are among the best in the nation in utilizing energy efficiency programs to improve their energy use," said Tim Horan, President of National Grid in Rhode Island. "These programs translate to huge savings for our customers and help reduce the collective carbon footprint of the state. The Energy Efficiency & Resource Management Council, the Office of Energy Resources, our regulators and the Rhode Island General Assembly should all be applauded for this great achievement. We look forward to helping keep Rhode Island among the nation's leaders in energy efficiency for many years to come," Horan added.
Rhode Island earned high marks in the following areas:
• Utilities – Rhode Island earned a perfect score for its utility policies and programs by setting and achieving aggressive energy savings targets in both electricity and natural gas. This is the fifth year in a row that the State earned a perfect score in this category.
• Government-Led Initiatives – Rhode Island's public sector was recognized for contributing to the State's energy efficiency successes. Governor Raimondo's Lead by Example Executive Order on energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives has led state facilities to reduce energy consumption and emissions, providing an example for municipalities, businesses, organizations and citizens to follow. Furthermore, the state offers a number of energy efficiency programs including the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy program (C-PACE), administered by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, which enables companies to finance 100 percent of their energy efficiency improvements.
• Building Policies – In Rhode Island, residential and commercial building construction must comply with high energy efficiency standards. In March, the state issued new voluntary building guidelines – known as "stretch codes" – to support the development of energy efficient buildings and to lower energy costs for building owners and occupants.
The full report may be downloaded at http://aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard.