Clean Energy News

The Environment America report, “America’s Clean Energy Stars: State Actions Leading America to a New Energy Future,” singled out 21 states for adopting bold policies to promote clean energy that can provide a model for the entire nation.  Seven states were awarded gold stars for leading the nation. Environment America, the federation of state environmental groups, including Environment New Mexico, is calling on Congress to follow the lead of the states by passing a strong energy bill that increases renewable energy, fuel economy and energy conservation. 

“New Mexico is leading the nation in developing clean solutions to the country's energy crisis. With the state's efforts to adopt a Clean Cars Program and with Governor Richardson's recent announcement to improve the state's energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2020, New Mexico continues to forge ahead,” said Environment New Mexico advocate Lauren Ketcham.  “It’s time for Congress to start dancing with the stars and deliver a strong energy bill this year.”

In developing the report, Environment America researchers looked at five areas of cutting-edge clean energy policy adopted by the state governments: renewable electricity standards, the Clean Cars Program, utility energy efficiency programs, energy efficiency standards for appliances and building energy codes.

The following states were spotlighted for special recognition in the report.  

·    California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington were highlighted as “gold star” clean energy states for adopting strong policies in at least four of these areas.

·    Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont  were highlighted as “silver star” clean energy states for adopting strong policies in at least two areas and meaningful policies in one to two others.

·   Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin were highlighted as “rising star” clean energy states in recognition of their strong recent actions to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy.

 

“Congress should pass a strong energy bill that helps us use energy more efficiently, saves consumers money, creates thousands of new jobs, reduces our dangerous dependence on oil and makes real progress on global warming. Congress can flip the switch on America’s clean energy future by increasing fuel economy standards to at least 35 MPG and requiring that we get 15 percent of our electricity from clean, homegrown sources like wind, solar, and biomass by the year 2020," concluded Ketcham.