April 24, 2014: States Achieving Savings with Energy Efficiency Targets
These Targets Are Making Significant Contributions to National Energy Savings
WASHINGTON — Energy efficiency targets implemented in half of U.S. states in 2012 saved enough electricity to power 2 million homes for a year, reports the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). These are findings of the organization’s “Energy Efficiency Resource Standards: A New Progress Report on State Experience.” The new report also finds that most states met or exceeded their targets and that these targets are making significant contributions to national energy savings.
“Energy efficiency is a cost effective and reliable resource that deserves to be a significant part of every state’s energy portfolio,” said Annie Downs, ACEEE state policy research analyst and lead author of the report. “Setting energy efficiency targets is smart policy that encourages utilities to help their customers save energy through efficiency programs, instead of spending even more money building unnecessary new power plants.”