NJ Ranks 17^th in Energy Efficiency- We Need to Do More

Today ACEEE 50 state scorecard ranking revealed which states lead most on energy efficiency. In a comprehensive ranking of 33 metrics in six policy areas, the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)  highlight state leaders, states to watch, and emerging trends. It looks at the top states for building energy codes, appliance standards, electric vehicles, and other issues. Massachusetts ranks #1, California #2, Rhode Island and Vermont at #3, and New York at #5. New Jersey ranked 17^th.  Last year New Jersey ranked 18^th.

“New Jersey’s rating on energy efficiency is based on hopefulness and wishful thinking. The state has been putting together programs on energy efficiency, but they haven’t been implemented yet. It will take 2 years to just put in energy efficiency regulations. New Jersey has failed to put in place programs on the transportation side too.  Even though the state is ranked at 17^th for energy efficiency, that number is based on New Jersey hoping to move quicker on efficiency,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “ New Jersey is not anywhere near the top 10 where states like Mass, California, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont are. New Jersey used to be 7^th in the nation, now we are pretty far from top 10. For being the greenest governor in the nation, ranking 17^th in energy efficiency is not so green.”

According to the report, New Jersey also added 2.5 points as utilities and regulators continued work on strengthening efficiency programs under new 2% electricity savings targets passed last year. The governor also announced the New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In, a first-of-its-kind, statewide partnership to create a strategic and streamlined framework to support New Jersey’s electric vehicle ecosystem. Its goal is to register 330,000 ZEVs by 2025. The state utility regulator also put forth a draft energy plan earlier in the year charting a path toward achieving the governor’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 and including energy efficiency as a key focus.

“New Jersey’s energy efficiency ranking improved from 18^th to 17^th this year. The ranking is generous because it is only based on rules that are not in place. ACEEE gave New Jersey a high grade on transportation efficiency, but the state has not put together the programs or passed the legislation to implement those programs,” said Tittel. “New Jersey will be rejoining RGGI, however only 20% of money from the program is going towards energy efficiency. The Murphy Administration is also still going to take $110M from Clean Energy Fund, including money for energy efficiency.”

New Jersey’s total score under those areas was 24 out of 50 points, just 2.5 points higher than their 2018 score. The report scored each state for Utility and public benefits program and policies (20pts), transportation policies (10pts.), building energy efficiency policies (8pts.), combined heat and power (3pts.), state government initiatives (6pts), appliance efficiency standards (3pts). New Jersey scored 6.5, 6,6,6,3,2.5,0 respectively.  In 2018, New Jersey spent 129.3 million for electric efficiency programs, ranking the state at 22. New Jersey ranked 12 in natural gas efficiency program spending with 90.1 million.  New Jersey also scored a 0 in major state financial incentives for energy efficiency.

“In New Jersey, we spend more and see the least amount of outcome than any other state in the nation when it comes to energy efficiency.  While Murphy boasts about doing more than any other governor when it comes to climate change, other governors are running circles around him. Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Inslee are going 100% carbon free by 2040 and by 2030.  Some states like Hawaii, California, Washington, New York, have committed to get to 100% energy by 2050 or sooner and are putting in programs to dramatically reduce GHG’s.  Even states with Republican governors like Maryland, Vermont, and Mass. are moving quicker on electric vehicles and regulating CO2,” said Tittel.

New Jersey should be using the Clean Energy Fund to help people weatherize their homes and save money, but they continue to rob the Fund for other purposes. For every dollar invested by a homeowner they save $4 and for every dollar invested by a business they save $16.

“Energy efficiency is the low hanging fruit to save money and reduce pollution, but New Jersey will miss these opportunities if we don’t have the policy and the funding behind them. To start, Murphy must put a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects so that the state can put in place programs and promote energy conservation. We can tap the enormous resource of energy efficiency while directly reducing dependence on non-renewable fuels,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Under Christie, New Jersey ranked 24^th in energy efficiency. We have moved up because of the hope that NJ will doing a lot more, however the state needs to move forward on implementing the programs in place for energy efficiency. Reducing energy consumption is the one of the most cost effective and best way to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases. It’s time New Jersey builds smarter and greener if we want to reduce our energy consumption.”