US Energy Efficiency Programs up 32% in 2010

For those contemplating doom and gloom for energy efficiency incentives, fear not, as the 2011 Energy Scrorecard, released by ACEEE today, cites that U.S. state energy incentive programs jumped up by 32% from 2009 to 2010, now totally $4.5 billion.  This is the fifth year the organization has been tracking incentive programs across the country (and the first time California was displaced as the #1 state, with Massachusetts taking the top spot).

ACEEE's message is clearly aimed at encouraging more incentives by emphasizing the economic benefits to businesses combined with new jobs:

“Energy efficiency is America’s abundant, untapped energy resource and the states continue to press forward to reap its economic and environmental benefits,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel. “The message here is that energy efficiency is a pragmatic, bipartisan solution that political leaders from both sides of the aisle can support. As they have over the past decades, states continue to provide the leadership needed to forge an energy-efficient economy, which reduces energy costs, spurs job growth, and benefits the environment.”