Behind California, Hawaii, Rhode Island and New York used the least electricity per person. Meanwhile, Californians consumed the fifth-lowest total energy per person of any state. This ranking has remained unchanged in recent years – and shows California’s residential sector consuming the least total energy of any state.
But California dropped to the third-friendliest state in the country for renewable energy. Because EnergyTrends examines energy use on a per-person basis, rather than measuring aggregate totals, and scores for renewable energy growth, California slipped from the top position last year.
The unique ranking system is based not just on policies but on actual energy consumption and generation data. This includes the amount of energy generated and consumed per-person by source, growth of renewable energy, state programs for renewable energy, and other factors. Bonus points are awarded for categories such as grid-connected renewable installations, dynamic pricing for power utility consumers, and integration of electric vehicles.
EnergyTrends.org is a project of the Lexington Institute, a nonprofit think tank based in Arlington, Virginia.
“We still have a long way to go incorporating renewable energy, even though many states are making considerable progress,” said Don Soifer, Executive Vice President at the Lexington Institute. “So we felt it essential to grade based on a growth model, with plenty of room to reflect future improvements in the integration of renewables.”
“EnergyTrends.org is about helping people understand the energy we use and produce. That is why we are committed to presenting information on a per-person basis in ways people can relate to and make comparisons with,” said Soifer. “It is an excellent resource for teachers, policymakers, and ordinary citizens interested in the energy they use.”
The site is based on the most recently available data, for 2011, released by the U.S. Department of Energy.
It also offers a wealth of other state-specific energy information, including per-capita consumption of energy from various fossil fuels, like coal, natural gas and gasoline, as well as renewable sources. All states are ranked in each category, along with indicators for important trends and summaries of important recent developments.
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