ACEEE PRESS RELEASE
DELIVERING THE PUBLIC GOODS:
NEW STUDY DOCUMENTS SUCCESS
OF STATE PUBLIC BENEFITS ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICIES
For further information,
contact: Martin Kushler at
517-655-7037, Dan York at 608-243-1123,
or Press contact: Glee Murray
at 202-478-8873.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14,
2004
Washington,
D.C. -- The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
is pleased to announce the publication of its new report, Five
Years In: An Examination of the First Half-Decade of Public Benefits
Energy Efficiency Policies, a comprehensive national review
of utility sector "public benefits" energy efficiency
policies. Such policies have been adopted in twenty states around
the country, and are providing nearly $1 billion per year in funding
for programs to improve the energy efficiency of homes and businesses
in those participating states.
The available
data suggest that these energy efficiency programs have been very
cost-effective, with a median "benefit-to-cost ratio"
of over two to one, and a median cost to save a kilowatt-hour of
electricity of 3.0 cents (less than half the cost of building, fueling,
and operating a typical conventional power plant).
"The study's
results demonstrate that state public benefits policies supporting
energy efficiency programs have been very successful," stated
Dr. Martin Kushler, lead author of the study and ACEEE's Utilities
Program Director. "Not only are these policies producing cost-effective
energy savings, but utilities, state agencies, and nonprofit advocacy
groups rated these policies very positively during our interviews."
Steven Nadel,
ACEEE's Executive Director, observed: "Rising energy costs
and shaky reliability are critical concerns for many Americans.
This study provides important information on states that have established
successful policies and funding mechanisms for energy efficiency.
We recommend that other states, and the federal government, give
serious consideration to these public benefits policies."
The main body
of the report can be downloaded for free or ordered in hard copy
for $30 at http://aceee.org/pubs/u041.htm.
In addition, two lengthy appendices provide detailed state-by-state
descriptive information on public benefits policies and their results.
This material illustrates how states have successfully utilized
a wide variety of administrative structures and delivery mechanisms
to implement these energy efficiency policies. For $65, the full
report including the appendices also may be purchased at http://aceee.org/pubs/u042.htm.
For more information, contact ACEEE Publications, 529 14th Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045, phone: 202-507-4000, fax: 202-429-2248, e-mail: aceee_publications@aceee.org.
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About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.
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