Wisconsin 5th in energy efficiency

From an article by Matt Tanger in The Badger Herald:

The state of Wisconsin is ranked fifth in the nation for energy efficiency, according to a study released Friday by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The report, “Meeting Aggressive New State Goals for Utility-Sector Energy Efficiency: Examining Key Factors Associated With High Savings,” aimed to identify the nation’s 14 most energy-efficient states and analyze energy savings and efficiency spending, while highlighting those factors associated with energy savings.

According to the report, expert review and an analysis of energy efficiency spending and savings data was used. The findings also highlighted methods of energy efficiency recommended to states.

The council judged Wisconsin on its Focus on Energy Program, developed in 2007. The program recommends the state adopt annual targets aimed at reducing electric load, the amount of electricity used by the state’s citizens and natural gas use throughout the state.

In 2009, the targets are to reduce the electric load of the state’s citizens by .75 percent and statewide reduce natural gas use by .5 percent, according to Gov. Jim Doyle spokesperson Lee Sensenbrenner.

The reduction targets will continue to increase gradually until 2010, when the yearly targets will be a 2 percent reduction for electricity use and 1 percent reduction for natural gas use. Following 2010, the reduction targets will then continue to increase during each following year.