Mass. ranks high on energy-efficiency scorecard

Globe Staff

Massachusetts is greener than Vermont -- at least according to a new scorecard that ranks states on their energy-efficiency efforts.

In fact, only California was greener than the Bay State. The annual scorecard is compiled by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. According to the council's scorecard, California and Massachusetts ranked first and second respectively while Vermont ranked fifth.

States at the bottom of the council's rankings: Mississippi and North Dakota.

In developing its rankings, the council said it examined state efforts on energy-efficiency policies. (To see a press release on the scorecard, please click here.)

This year's scorecard was issued as "Congress failed take major action on climate and energy legislation in 2010," the council noted in a press release.

“Even as Washington dawdles on climate and clean energy, states are moving ahead with considerable vigor on these vital matters, with energy efficiency initiatives leading the way," Steven Nadel, the council's executive director, said in a statement. "In particular, states are moving forward and advancing energy efficiency policies and programs in an effort to create jobs and stimulate their economies during a period of considerable economic uncertainty. While $11 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds was helpful in this process and there were setbacks in a few states, the overall story here is one of states getting done what Congress has so far failed to do.”

See the 10 states that were named most energy efficient.

(The Globe File Photo above shows shoppers at a Cambridge Best Buy looking for appliances as part of the state's energy-efficient appliance rebate program.)