There's a new state champion for energy efficiency

Massachusetts has replaced California at the top of the Energy Scorecard Top 10, which measures the states' efforts to plan and implement efficient energy policies.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which maintains and publishes the list, the six most improved states are Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Alabama, Maryland and Tennessee.

The Scorecard ranks the states based on metrics that capture best practices and recognize leadership in energy-efficiency policy and program implementation, according to the ACEEE.

“Energy efficiency is America’s abundant, untapped energy resource, and the states continue to press forward to reap its economic and environmental benefits,” said ACEEE executive director Steven Nadel.  “The message here is that energy efficiency is a pragmatic, bipartisan solution that political leaders from both sides of the aisle can support.

Rounding out the top 10 behind Massachusetts and California are New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut and Maryland. 

The Scorecard also identified states most in need of improvement: North Dakota, Wyoming, Mississippi, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Alabama and South Dakota.