A new report entitled “Clean Energy Momentum: Ranking State Progress” and published by the Union of Concerned Scientists highlighted Vermont for its success in developing a clean energy economy. Vermont ranked second nationally, bested onlyby California.
The report scored states on 12 metrics in the three broader areas of technical progress, direct visible effects on daily lives, and policies to build momentum for the future. Vermont earned top-five scores in energy savings, electric vehicle adoption, and energy efficiency policy and 10 top-10 appearances, the most of any state. The metric that really stole the show was its clean energy jobs sector. Only nine states have at least 10 people per thousand residents employed in energy efficiency, solar, and wind. Vermont leads the nation in these clean energy jobs per capita.
Vermont leads the nation with carbon reduction targets and hangs neck-and-neck with larger states such as California in energy efficiency (third place).
“Vermont’s early and continued leadership on local clean energy-efficiency, solar, and wind has helped fueled our economy,” said Olivia Campbell Andersen, Renewable Energy Vermont executive director. “Given federal inaction, towns and states must lead the way on climate and clean energy solutions, and that’s exactly what innovative Vermonters plan to keep doing.”
