A report released last week by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (“ACEEE”) showed that overall spending on industrial energy efficiency (“EE”) projects is on the rise.
The report tracked 2010 spending by utilities, state and federal agencies, public benefit fund organizations, and nonprofit entities that was used for providing industrial energy users with incentives, rebates, grants, loans, technical assistance, energy audits, and assessments, among other services to encourage EE.
Total spending topped $1 billion. While 2010 spending received a boost to the tune of approximately $228 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”), the rest came from other sources. Research shows that the largest programs, by far, were run by utilities and public benefit fund organizations, who accounted for $737 million of the $1.1 billion pot.
The report, however, does not account for private spending which would undoubtedly increase that figure substantially. Industrial users of energy have been very pro-active in implementing EE programs to lower operating expenses and protect themselves against spikes in energy costs. The study also leaves out the millions of private sector dollars that are raised through leveraging public funds. However, ACEEE’s data clearly shows an uptick in total industrial EE program spending.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey both finished among the top 10 state spenders. Pennsylvania ranked third, behind New York and California, at about $65 million, while New Jersey spent just under $28 million, providing the Garden State with an 8th place finish.
