south_dakota_cpp_letter_3.2.16-baab3717883b6bb9.pdf

A letter dated March 2, 2016, addressed to Governor Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, urging the state to maximize investments in energy efficiency to meet Clean Power Plan compliance goals cost-effectively.

• Energy efficiency is presented as the most cost-effective demand-side energy resource, being cheaper than renewables or electric and gas generation. It is described as the only option that can simultaneously reduce emissions, create sustained local jobs, and mitigate the costs associated with implementing the Clean Power Plan.
• The document identifies both utility-administered and non-utility energy-efficiency opportunities in South Dakota. Non-utility options include combined heat and power, building energy codes with green building certification, residential retrofit financing, and energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs). The U.S. ESPC market specifically generates over $5 billion in new investments annually.
• The authors suggest that South Dakota could meet over 100 percent of its 2030 Clean Power Plan compliance goal by implementing specific policies such as energy-savings targets, updated building energy codes, and increased combined heat and power. This approach could potentially save South Dakotans $239 million and avoid more than 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the compliance period.
• To maximize cost-effective emissions reductions, the letter recommends that South Dakota expand existing programs, specifically the South Dakota Energy Smart initiative and the loan program for energy-efficient investments, and opt into the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP).

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2016). south_dakota_cpp_letter_3.2.16-baab3717883b6bb9.pdf. https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Dakota_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. south_dakota_cpp_letter_3.2.16-baab3717883b6bb9.pdf. 2016. https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Dakota_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=south_dakota_cpp_letter_3.2.16-baab3717883b6bb9.pdf |date=2 March 2016 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Dakota_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2016southdakotacppletter3216baab3717883b6bb9pdf, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{south\_dakota\_cpp\_letter\_3.2.16-baab3717883b6bb9.pdf}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/South_Dakota_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }