Map of the most energy-efficient states looks kind of familiar

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has released its annual assessment of the best states for energy efficiency. Good job, Massachusetts, again.

States continue to move strongly in 2012 to advance energy efficiency initiatives regardless of which political party is in control of state legislatures and governors’ offices, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) on the release today of its sixth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

[T]he ACEEE State Scorecard shows that the top 10 energy efficiency states are Massachusetts (in its second year atop the rankings), California, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, and Minnesota.

The 10 states most in need of improvement (starting with last) are Mississippi, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska.

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The three most improved states are Oklahoma, Montana, and South Carolina. All three states significantly increased their budgets for electric efficiency programs in 2011.

Or, in map form:

Click to embiggen.

And now, since it’s debate day, I’m obliged to point this out. It’s how polls suggest states are likely to vote in the presidential election, per FiveThirtyEight.com.