R.I. still one of most energy-efficient states

RHODE ISLAND ranked fourth in the nation for energy efficiency on the 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. This was the second year in a row that the Ocean State ranked fourth. / COURTESY AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECONOMY
RHODE ISLAND ranked fourth in the nation for energy efficiency on the 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. This was the second year in a row that the Ocean State ranked fourth. / COURTESY AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECONOMY

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island maintained its rank as the fourth most energy-efficient state in the country, according to this year’s State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
The scorecard, released Tuesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ranks states based on a range of energy topics, including state policies, utility and public benefits and transportation.
Rhode Island ranked No. 4 after Massachusetts and California – which tied for No. 1 – and Vermont, which received the No. 3 spot. Connecticut – the only other New England state to crack the top 10, tied New York for fifth place.
Rhode Island earned a score of 39.5 out of a possible 50, which is three more points than last year. Among its scorecard highlights, the state earned a perfect score for its utility policies and programs for the third year in a row. For transportation, the Ocean State earned six points out of a possible 10 points and an additional five points out of a possible seven points for its building energy code stringency and compliance efforts, according to the scorecard.
“Rhode Island has always ranked high in the State Scorecard and remains in the top five thanks in large part to its leading utility sector efforts to acquire all cost-effective energy efficiency. In 2014, Rhode Island was the first state to achieve electricity savings above 3 percent, driven by some of the most aggressive energy savings targets in the US. The state has shown strong commitment to reducing energy waste across almost all policy sectors and can continue to achieve high levels of energy savings through regular renewal of efficiency targets and periodic updates to its building energy codes, as well as potentially adding to its portfolio of sustainable transportation policies,” according to the report.
Judith Judson, commissioner of the Mass. Department of Energy Resources, meanwhile lauded her administration for supporting the state’s energy efficiency policies and finishing top in the nation for the sixth year in a row.
“By working with our utility partners, the commonwealth’s ratepayers continue to realize billions of dollars in benefits from our nation-leading energy efficiency policies and programs,” Judson said in a statement.

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