# Arkansas Energy Efficiency Investments Would Create Thousands of Local Jobs and Save Customers Billions

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/04/arkansas-energy-efficiency-investments-would-create-thousands-of-local-jobs-and-save-customers-billions/
- Published: 2011-04-11T13:33:11-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

_**State Already On Track to Becoming the Most Energy Efficient in Southeast **_

Investments in energy efficiency across all four of Arkansas’ economic sectors —-
residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation —- would create over 11,000
jobs, generate $240 million in revenue for the state, and save consumers $3.2 billion
in energy bills by 2025, according to a report released today by the American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report, Advancing Energy Efficiency
in Arkansas: Opportunities for a Clean Energy Economy, examines the potential for
greater energy efficiency in Arkansas and suggests a variety of policies to tap 
into this underused resource.

An interim release of ACEEE’s Arkansas report has already been successful in influencing
energy efficiency policy in the state. The study was delivered to government officials,
including the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC), in June 2010 and utilized
during APSC proceedings. On December 10, 2010, the APSC issued 10 orders designed
to expand the energy efficiency efforts of Arkansas utilities, making Arkansas the
first state in the Southeast to adopt a comprehensive set of policies on utility
energy efficiency programs.

Among the programs created by the APSC orders is an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard(
EERS), which sets a statewide goal for long-term energy savings. In order to meet
the EERS targets, the report suggests instituting a number of programs including
weatherization assistance for inefficient homes, energy-efficient financing for 
the Arkansas agricultural sector, and investments in the efficiency of Arkansas’
public buildings. The report projects that investments in this suite of programs
and policies will not only create jobs and lower energy bills, but will also increase
the state’s productivity and revenue.

This study lays the foundation for a future of sustained economic activity and prosperity
for Arkansas citizens by recommending a broad suite of policies intended to capture
a significant amount of energy savings potential across all of Arkansas’ economic
sectors,” said Max Neubauer, ACEEE Research Associate and lead author of the report.
Investments in these energy efficiency policies will reduce energy consumption, 
helping to create jobs while saving consumers money that can then be reinvested 
elsewhere in the state economy.

The report also analyzes Arkansas’ transportation sector, making a variety of policy
recommendations to reduce fuel use while helping to address congestion and expand
transportation options for its growing population. The analysis focused primarily
on the state’s two major metropolitan areas, Little Rock/North Little Rock and Fayetteville-
Springdale-Rogers, and found that the recommendations could cut the state’s transportation
fuel needs by 10 percent in 2025.

“The orders given by the Arkansas Public Service Commission signify a break from
the commonly voiced doctrine in the Southeast that any expense on utility bills 
is a bane of business and economic growth,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven
Nadel. In fact, it is quite the opposite:[ energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/10-largest-wind-project-development-2022/)
efficiency encourages economic growth by reducing energy bills and creating a robust,
sustainable energy efficiency market that offers new business opportunities and 
generates jobs.

Steven Nadel and Max Neubauer will be presenting their findings to the state’s Joint
Energy Committee on March 29^(th).

To read the report, click here.