Louisiana ranks among the five worst states for energy efficiency, according to a new scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
The Pelican State ranks 47th in the council’s 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. Only Kansas (No. 48), South Dakota (no. 49), Wyoming (No. 50) and North Dakota (No. 51) performed worse than Louisiana. The District of Columbia was included in the rankings.
The council develops the rankings by studying each state’s various energy efficiency policies and procedures, including financial incentives for energy efficient businesses; policies that promote combined heat and power, or CHP; transportation efficiency; and appliance standards, among other measures. Each state is scored on an index of up to 50, with 50 being the highest possible score.
Louisiana scored a dismal 6.5 out of the possible 50-point score. The state was cited for a relative lack of financial incentives and inefficient transportation, among other measures.
For comparison, the top two states, California and Massachusetts, each scored a 45. The bottom state, North Dakota, was slapped with a 3.0 score.
Massachusetts has earned the top spot in the scorecard for six years in a row now, but this is the first time it shared the honor with California. Vermont sits at third and Rhode Island fourth, while Connecticut and New York were tied for fifth.
“Governors, legislators, regulators, businesses, and citizens are increasingly recognizing that energy efficiency is a critical state resource that keeps money in the local economy,” says Steven Nadel, executive director of ACEEE, in a statement. “States are spurring efficiency investment through advancements in building energy codes, transportation planning, and leading by example in their own facilities and fleets. These investments reap large benefits, giving businesses, governments, and consumers more control over how and when they use energy.”
