Top 10 U.S. States For Clean Energy Leadership

posted by: Beth Buczynski 10 hours ago

Clean Energy, the world's first research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector, recently released the U.S. Clean Energy Leadership Index to help green tech companies choose which states will be most nurturing for their products.

By tracking more than 4,000 public and private data points across all 50 states, the Index provides the clean energy industry's most comprehensive and objective analysis and ranking of how all 50 states compare across the spectrum of clean-energy technology, policy, and capital.

According to this report, the top 10 states for clean energy leadership are:

1. California
2. Oregon
3. Massachusetts
4. Washington
5. Colorado
6. New York
7. Illinois
8. Connecticut
9. Minnesota
10. New Jersey

Rankings were derived from over 80 metrics including total electricity produced by clean-energy sources, hybrid vehicles on the road, and clean-energy venture and patent activity.

"The industry needs to move beyond the days of using disaggregated and fragmented data to bolster subjective political claims about a state's or region's clean-tech prowess or as the basis of fundamental and significant business decisions," says Clean Edge cofounder and managing director Ron Pernick. "For the first time, Clean Edge is bringing timely clean-energy data and analysis under one roof, making this a critical tool for clean-tech decision makers within both the public and private sector."

In addition to annual "report cards" for all 50 states, subscribers of the Clean Edge Clean Energy Leadership Index receive quarterly insight reports that focus on the most important technology, policy, and capital developments, and advisory services to help decision-makers sculpt their clean-energy strategies.

How the government could raise its Green-o-meter rating

The shadow environment ministers, Mary Creagh and Meg Hillier, outline Labour's green tests for the year ahead

• How well is the government keeping its green promises?

Mary Creagh and Meg Hillier
guardian.co.uk, Friday 14 January 2011 12.09 GMT
The government has made a woeful start on green issues. From plans to privatise our ancient woodlands through to scaled-back ambitions for clean energy technology, the Tory-led government's actions have been strong on rhetoric but poor on action.


So the Guardian's newly launched Green-o-meter arrives at just the right time to help the public hold the Tories and Lib Dems to account.


Labour has a strong record on the environment, establishing the new Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), as well as creating two new national parks, improving conservation and giving people the "right to roam". The Climate Change Act – championed by Ed Miliband – and low-carbon transition plan marked a turning point in the UK's approach to tackling climate change. Our focus is on creating green jobs, supporting low-carbon industries and protecting the natural environment.


Here are Labour's key green tests for the government in the year ahead:


1. Putting in place the investment framework necessary to create new green jobs and a green economy: the government's flagship policy is the green investment bank but it hasn't yet decided whether it will be fully independent with the power to raise capital or simply a fund. Labour's initial work on the bank aimed to channel funding to new energy and infrastructure projects. The Tory-led government should stop dithering and make a decision. The bank is central to the government's credentials on the environment and growth.


The government has abolished the Regional Development Agencies, previously one of the engines of green investment. Labour wants to encourage community-scale renewable power but instead the Tories approach to localism could create gridlock. We need a comprehensive vision for greening our energy supply.


2. Tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency: increased fuel bills add to people's concerns about pay freezes, VAT and fare increases and their worries about jobs. So far ministers have decided to scrap Warm Front and phase out funding to target those in fuel poor households. The "green deal" to make homes more energy efficient must be fit for purpose or it risks overlooking some of the people most at risk from fuel poverty.


3. Protecting homes and businesses from changing weather conditions: the government has already failed its first crucial test by slashing the flood defence budget by 27%, creating uncertainty for 5.2m homes at risk from flooding. It also undermines the joint statement of principles agreed by the Labour government and the insurance industry to provide universal insurance for homes and businesses until 2013. Ministers need to talk to insurance companies to ensure people can get insurance after 2013.


4. Reforming the energy market and protecting consumers: the government has announced that it will carry out Labour's plans for much needed reform to the energy market. The investment needed to meet our energy targets is in excess of £200bn. It is a huge challenge for government and industry but ministers cannot allow the consumers to bear the full burden. Reforms must be fair, not just an excuse for companies to keep increasing bills.


5. Securing a sustainable future for nature: the government has reserved some of its worst cuts for the natural environment, slashing the Defra budget by 30% – the highest of any spending department. More than 130,000 people have now signed an online petition against plans to sell England's public forests for profit. But it is not just our ancient woodlands under threat; the Tories have cut more than £66m from agricultural environmental schemes and plan to force Natural England to dispose of 140 nature reserves.


6. Leading on a world stage: Cancún marks a small step forward for the international community on climate change, building on key provisions of Copenhagen. The science tells us that there is still a huge amount of work to do if we are to keep global temperature rises to 2C. Britain and Europe must show international leadership between now and the climate change conference in South Africa in 12 months time to ensure that happens.


We need to inspire people with a positive vision for the environment. The mission to create green jobs through clean energy and low-carbon manufacturing is at the heart of Ed Miliband's plans for the economy. The coalition's laissez-faire DIY state cannot achieve it. It requires determined action by government in partnership with people, driven by fairness.


• Mary Creagh MP is shadow environment secretary and Meg Hillier MP is shadow energy and climate change secretary