For the ninth consecutive year, Massachusetts has been ranked the most energy efficient state in the nation by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Massachusetts received top marks for its energy efficiency policies and programs, and the unique energy efficiency programs offered under the Mass Save® brand in partnership with the Commonwealth’s utilities and program sponsors, for leading by example with state buildings and operations and for implementing a stretch building energy code for towns and cities.
Read the full 2019 ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard here.
Governor Charlie Baker said the ACEEE award “reflects the state’s efforts to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while saving residents and business money on their energy bills. Through significant investments in energy efficiency and clean energy, including historic procurements of hydropower and offshore wind, our administration remains committed to building a clean energy future for the Commonwealth.”
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito said, “Investing in energy efficiency not only helps meet the Commonwealth’s climate goals, but also delivers financial savings for residents, business and municipalities. Through the Commonwealth’s Leading by Example effort and a first-in-the-nation partnership with cities and towns, the Green Communities program, we are proud to work collaboratively with communities and across state government to reduce energy usage and costs.”
The ACEEE Scorecard measures states on six categories of energy efficiency policy and programs, including utility programs, transportation, building energy codes, combined heat and power, state government policies, and appliance standards. Key to Massachusetts’ ongoing leadership is its utility-run nation-leading energy efficiency programs. The Commonwealth’s current 2019-2021 Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan, approved earlier this year, sets nation-leading goals for energy savings, expecting to achieve the highest level of natural gas savings to date while expanding the electric energy efficiency programs to align the programs with the Global Warming Solutions Act greenhouse gas reduction goals. In total, the programs are expected to deliver over $9 billion in benefits to residents and businesses across Massachusetts.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said, “Energy efficiency measures are the most cost-effective option for ratepayers to lower their energy bills, while simultaneously helping Massachusetts meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals,” “We are proud that being honored as the nation’s most energy efficient state for the ninth year means our efforts in collaboration with the legislature, municipalities and stakeholders have allowed us to address climate change and deliver on significant reductions for ratepayers year after year.”
Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson said, “We have continued to identify areas for our Mass Save® energy efficiency programs, in partnership with our utilities, to create an affordable, resilient and clean energy future for Massachusetts,” “This award is only achievable through partnership and collaboration between many public and private stakeholders in every sector of the economy that is setting a higher bar for our energy future.”
The new three-year plan expands electric programs to recognize the benefits of strategic electrification, and for the first time in Massachusetts offers incentive programs for fuel switching – targeting oil and propane customers for fuel conversion to more efficient and affordable heating fuels and technologies such as air source heat pumps.
Last year, the Baker-Polito Administration released the first-ever Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP), which analyzed Massachusetts’ energy supply and demand and outlines priorities and strategies for achieving a clean, affordable, and resilient energy future for the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, Governor Baker announced a three-year, $40 million energy efficiency partnership to reduce energy consumption across dozens of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stations and facilities, reduce MBTA operating costs, enhance rider experience through improved lighting and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the Administration awarded $2.3 million to fund a solar rebate program to support residential and small commercial solar projects for customers in participating Municipal Light Plant (MLP) service territories.