October 26, 2007—States have accelerated their efforts to reduce energy use by setting mandatory energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities, according to a review released recently by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report found 15 states with such policies in place, up from five states two years ago.
These targets, dubbed “Energy Efficiency Resource Standards” (EERS), set long-term targets that ramp up to major savings, says EERE. Utilities can meet the targets by offering programs to help their customers conserve energy, and some states credit savings from combined heat and power plants, transmission and distribution system upgrades, and other measures toward the targets.
ACEEE analysis estimates that EERS requirements now in place could reduce national electricity demand by more than 1% per year by 2013. This would be a significant impact, says ACEEE, given that the Annual Energy Outlook of the Energy Information Administration forecasts that national electricity consumption growth will average only 1.5% per year from now through 2025.
The participating states are: Vermont, New York, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.
A summary of the review is available on ACEEE’s Web site.
