Wyoming comes in just about dead last in the nation when it comes to energy efficiency. That’s according to the latest annual report from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
The Council measures efficiency based on six criteria, including transportation, building codes and state-led initiatives. Wyoming ranks below average in all areas except appliance efficiency standards -- and that only because nationwide the results are consistently bad. The state fares particularly poorly relative to the rest of the country on utility efficiency programs. The Council notes in its report that Wyoming has no standards or incentives for utility-level efficiency.
Executive Director Steve Nadel says even with the state’s very low energy costs, inefficiency is a drag on the economy.
“To the extent you use energy more efficiently, waste less, there would be some significant benefits,” says Nadel.
The Council is planning to release a report this spring quantifying those benefits.