Oregon Department of Energy Celebrates No. 9 Ranking for Most Energy Efficient States

A map of the states' rankings, with Oregon listed as No. 9

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Oregon at No. 9 in its nationwide State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which measures policy and program standards that support energy efficiency.

This is Oregon’s 15th time in the top 10 since the State Scorecard’s inception in 2006. Fellow west coast state California earned the top ranking and Washington ranked No. 6. Oregon’s No. 9 ranking marks the state’s return to the top 10; ACEEE ranked Oregon No. 11 in the previous edition in 2022.

The ACEEE scorecard highlights Oregon’s:

  • Building Performance Standards for existing buildings, which was established by the Oregon Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 3409. The policy requires many large commercial buildings to enhance energy management practices and implement efficiency measures to meet energy use targets. “States are increasingly recognizing the need to prioritize improvements for existing buildings, which will comprise more than half of the building footprint in 2050,” wrote ACEEE. Oregon ranked second to California for the number of verified zero-energy buildings.

  • Updated reporting practices in coordination with community stakeholders and informed by findings from equity-focused utility proceedings through Energy Trust of Oregon’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Operations Plan.

  • Energy Affordability Act (House Bill 2475, 2021), which allows utility providers to consider equity-related factors to determine customer energy rates. In addition, intervenor funding supports organizations that represent marginalized energy customers to participate in Oregon Public Utility Commission proceedings. “By enabling historically excluded or overlooked individuals to participate, intervenor compensation improves energy planning by facilitating more informed decision making that considers the impacts to all customers,” ACEEE wrote.

  • Commitment to zero-emissions vehicles:

    • Adoption of California’s light-duty and heavy duty zero-emissions vehicle requirements, which increase the number of electric vehicles sold by manufacturers.

    • The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offers a cash rebate for Oregon drivers who purchase or lease electric vehicles, and the Oregon Department of Transportation’s OReGO program offers an optional pay-by-mile program to replace a supplemental registration fee. 

  • Statewide Transit Tax, passed through House Bill 2017, which provides an ongoing fund for public transportation investments and improvements.

“I’m pleased to see Oregon once again rank among the top 10 most energy efficient states,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “ACEEE recognized the ongoing work of the Oregon Department of Energy and our partners to be energy leaders and strengthen our policies and programs to improve efficiency and strengthen equity for vulnerable and underrepresented communities.”

Learn more about Oregon Department of Energy programs on its website: www.oregon.gov/energy.

Press Releases, Saving EnergyKatelyn JacksonACEEE, Efficiency, Scorecard, Energy Efficiency