New York Among Top-Ranked States for Energy Efficiency Best Practices

November 13, 2009

Albany, NY  — New York State ranks among the top states in the nation for energy efficiency best practices, according to a recently released survey from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Francis J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the State’s lead agency for implementing a broad range of energy efficiency programs, said, “Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of New York’s energy policy. Governor David Paterson’s commitment to achieving greater energy efficiency is an integral element of his strategy to strengthen our economy, protect our environment, and increase our energy security. NYSERDA, along with the state’s utilities, the Public Service Commission and other agencies look forward to building on the Governor’s vision and working with businesses and homeowners across the state to achieve even greater efficiencies in the future.”

The ACEEE report reviewed utility and government policy and program practices in every state and ranked New York fifth in the nation based on six criteria used to judge energy-efficiency practices: Utility sector and public benefits programs and policies, transportation policies, building energy codes, combined heat and power (the use of waste heat to generate electricity), state government initiatives, and appliance-efficiency standards.

Murray said that during the past 10 years, NYSERDA’s incentives to install energy-efficiency measures have saved New Yorkers more than $600 million annually on their energy bills by increasing efficiency through its New York Energy $mart^SM program. Murray also noted that similar energy-efficiency programs administered by the State’s public power authorities--the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA)--that serve Long Island, municipal electric systems, government customers, and large industry in New York have also contributed to New York’s top ranking.

ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said: “The states continue to be leaders in advancing energy efficiency policies and programs. In fact, this growing and deepening commitment to energy efficiency is so strong that the current recession has not put a dent in the vast majority of state programs. And that is for good reason: Energy efficiency is the only resource that can actually reduce energy consumption while growing the economy – making efficiency the ‘first fuel’ states can use to balance their energy portfolios.”

“By embracing a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency strategies, the leading states are demonstrating that efficiency is their ’first fuel’ to meet energy demands while growing their economies,” said Maggie Eldridge, ACEEE research associate and lead author of the report. “States continue to raise the bar with comprehensive strategies to improve efficiency in their buildings, industry, and transportation systems. They are the ‘living laboratories’ of energy efficiency.”

Founded in 1980, The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ACEEE carries out its mission by:

• Conducting in-depth technical and policy analyses
• Advising policymakers and program managers
• Working collaboratively with businesses, government officials, public interest groups, and other organizations
• Convening conferences and workshops, primarily for energy efficiency professionals
• Assisting and encouraging the media to cover energy efficiency policy and technology issues
• Educating businesses and consumers through our reports, books, conference proceedings, media outreach, and Web site.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) was established by law in 1975 as a public benefit corporation. NYSERDA provides energy-related technical and financial packaging assistance to businesses and institutions to promote energy efficiency and economic development, as well as providing energy research and development programs that promote safe and economical energy production efficiency technologies in New York State. NYSERDA also analyzes the effect of New York’s energy, regulatory and environmental policies on the State’s business, institutional, and residential energy consumers.

CONTACT:

Jeffrey Gordon, NYSERDA
(518)-862-1090, ext. 3544
jrg@nyserda.ny.gov