The challenges of reducing energy consumption in a nation as large as the United States and as dependent on technology as we have become are massive. From school campaigns with students that encourage all to “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” to municipalities that institute odd and even grass watering days, everybody tries to do something. But for real change to increase energy efficiency, it takes not only the individual, but the state. As the leader of the state, the governor has the most crucial role to place to advance energy efficiency.
A paper newly released by the National Governors Association (NGA) describes how our states have played an essential role in the progress with using energy efficiently that the United States has made in recent years. The governors play the leading roles in the progress. That makes perfect sense, when you consider the unique position they occupy and the people and businesses they have the ability to influence and educate. Not only can they make sure their own state governments are supportive of energy efficiency and careful of waste throughout government departments, thereby reducing state budget energy expenditures, but they also may work with the utility commissioner to make sure that the state’s energy infrastructures are well-maintained, their reliability strengthened and new expenditures postponed when not yet necessary.
Governors are well-placed to ensure that legislators, regulators and energy companies work together to help consumers lower their energy costs. They accomplish this by improving energy efficiency rules and standards, understanding and implementing best practices, conducting planning for future energy needs and for the potential for changes to bring about savings in energy use that lead to cost reductions. Governors are able to work with legislators on the state and national level to support innovative financing for citizens’ energy saving efforts and innovations on repayment options. They have the powerful ability to offer spending incentives to the energy companies to increase energy efficiency to everyone, from homes to industries.
Government, through state legislatures lead by their governor, has provided mechanisms to encourage energy investment commitments by the private sector. Supporting research and development is equally important, in order to stay ahead of the growth in the need for energy that new technology brings. Working with technology companies, universities and developers of these programs is vital. For further information, read the NGA paper posted at //www.nga.org which further describes steps taken to advance energy efficiency.
