Southern states have a long way to go to become energy efficient, according to the 2010 state-by-state rankings prepared by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Scoring things such as utilities' efficiency programs, transportation, state initiatives, building codes and appliance efficiency, all but one of the Southeastern states rank in the bottom half of the nation.
Tennessee ranks 35, Georgia ranks 37 and Alabama pulls in at 49, according to the rankings.
"Efficiency, the energy we don't use thanks to better technologies and smarter habits, is our cheapest and cleanest energy resource," said Maggie Molina, lead author of the nonprofit council's report.
The council, founded in 1980 by energy researchers, hopes to advance energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security and environmental protection.
Molina said many states are "raising the bar" in energy efficiency despite Congress' slow progress on major energy and climate legislation.
She said California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Vermont and Washington -- the top rankers, respectively -- are making efficiency part of their building codes, greening transportation systems, forcing utilities to clean up and investing in research and development to bring in greener industries.
Jill Tauber, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the South's low ratings may be viewed as an opportunity to tap into cleaner, more efficient energy and create new jobs.
TVA spokesman Mike Bradley said the Tennessee Valley Authority has made some policy adjustments in the past two months.
"Our renewed strategic vision, announced at the Aug. 20 TVA board meeting, includes leading the Southeast in new energy efficiency measures," he said.
TVA has committed to achieving energy efficiency savings equal to 3.5 percent of total power sales by 2015. The agency also plans to achieve 1,900 megawatts of peak power savings through energy efficiency by 2015.
"That's about the capacity equivalent of two coal-fired power plants, but without the construction costs and emissions," Bradley said.
Frank Rambo, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said TVA must play a big role for the Volunteer State's future progress.
"Tennessee is crawling in the right direction (up from 38 last year to 35 now), but clearly has a long way to go," Rambo said. "TVA's long-range plan for meeting electricity demand is up for revision, so now is the time to lock in its commitments to energy efficiency."
Georgia, like Tennessee, climbed in this year's rating, rising from 44 to 37.
"Georgians should feel encouraged, but the state still has a long way to go," Tauber said. "Most of the state's energy comes from coal and other polluting fossil fuels."
Alabama fell to 49, down from 48 last year, Rambo said. "Whether Alabama Power plans to tap into cost-effective energy efficiency is largely unknown, because there is no regular public review of the utility's long-range resource plans," he said.
Pam Sohn has been reporting or editing Chattanooga news for 25 years. A Walden’s Ridge native, she began her journalism career with a 10-year stint at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. She came to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 1999 after working at the Chattanooga Times for 14 years. She has been a city editor, Sunday editor, wire editor, projects team leader and assistant lifestyle editor. As a reporter, she also has covered the police, ...
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