(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/25/2023) When it comes to getting the state ready for more electric vehicles (EV), Michigan is not among the leaders of the pack, according to a national analysis released earlier this summer.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) gave California the highest score of 88 out of a possible 100, while Michigan ranks 26th with 23.5 points on the same scale. Seventeen states – including Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Texas – weren't given a ranking.
The rankings were based on five criteria: infrastructure, electric grid, incentives, transportation system efficiencies and methods to evaluate progress on the EV front.
Only three states in the Great Lakes region were ranked. Minnesota ranked No. 17 with 30.5 points, Illinois was No. 21 with 27.5 points and Michigan was tied with Arizona for 26th with 23.5 points.
Michigan ranked highest on the incentive barometer, where a total of 36 points were available. Michigan got 7.5.In the "planning and goals" category, Michigan got 1 out of 15 points. The power grid score was 5 out of 9.It was 5 out of 17 on system efficiency.
With the nation's overall transportation system contributing to 28% of the country's dirty air, the top five states after California were New York, Colorado, Massachusetts and Vermont.
DTE, Consumers Score 5th, 6th On Energy Efficiency
On another subject, Michigan's two large incumbent utilities scored 5th and 6th, respectively, on their energy efficiency programs, according to an ACEEE ranking released a month ago.
The Scorecard evaluated 53 of the largest U.S. electric utilities on their incentive and other programs for energy-saving improvements and found that energy savings dropped 5.4% between 2018 and 2021.
While the ACEEE said all states could do more to reduce energy waste, DTE was highlighted as having the 5th best energy efficiency program while Consumers Energy had the 6th best.
ACEEE highlighted the Michigan Senate's proposal to increase utility energy-saving targets to 2% of annual sales starting in 2025, which could vault the state's energy companies past the perennial leaders in Massachusetts and California.
Ohio was one of the nation's worst on this front since the state eliminated Ohio's efficiency program through statute in 2019.
