west_virginia_cpp_letter_3.2.16-5ed712c593736065.pdf

A coalition of organizations advocates for West Virginia to prioritize energy efficiency as the lowest-cost method for reducing emissions and meeting Clean Power Plan goals, highlighting potential savings of $410 million and the avoidance of 5 million tons of carbon dioxide.

• Energy efficiency is presented as the most economical demand-side energy resource, being cheaper than renewables or electric and gas generation. It allows for rapid, local emissions reductions and is the only option that simultaneously creates local jobs and lowers energy bills for residents and businesses.
• Beyond utility-administered programs, West Virginia can achieve significant emission reductions through non-utility policies, including combined heat and power, green building certifications via building energy codes, residential retrofit financing, and energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs). The U.S. ESPC market alone generates over $5 billion in annual new investments.
• Implementing specific energy-efficiency policies—such as energy-savings targets, updated building codes, and combined heat and power—could meet 25 percent of West Virginia's 2030 compliance goal under the Clean Power Plan. This approach would save West Virginians $410 million and avoid more than 5 million tons of carbon dioxide.
• The signatories recommend that West Virginia opt into the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) to maximize cost-effective emissions reductions if the state decides to submit a plan to avoid a Federal Plan.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2016). west_virginia_cpp_letter_3.2.16-5ed712c593736065.pdf. https://www.eesi.org/files/West_Virginia_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. west_virginia_cpp_letter_3.2.16-5ed712c593736065.pdf. 2016. https://www.eesi.org/files/West_Virginia_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=west_virginia_cpp_letter_3.2.16-5ed712c593736065.pdf |date=2 March 2016 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/West_Virginia_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2016westvirginiacppletter32165ed712c593736065pdf, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{west\_virginia\_cpp\_letter\_3.2.16-5ed712c593736065.pdf}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/West_Virginia_CPP_Letter_3.2.16.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }