Progress towards 2020 Energy Benchmarks

The Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance has set forth 2 benchmarks that Kentucky should meet by 2020 in order to help Kentuckians, especially those most affected by rising energy costs, face today's energy challenges, to keep Kentucky on par with national trends and to move the state forward towards clean, sustainable energy.

Benchmark 1 - Energy Efficiency

KY should achieve annual energy savings from new efficiency measures that add up to at least 2% of retail electricity sales.*

How Kentucky measures up to this benchmark today:

In 2007, KY saved only .02% of retail electricity sales through new efficiency measures.

Benchmark 2 - Renewable Energy

At least 12.5% of Kentucky's total electricity consumption should come from clean, renewable energy sources by 2020.

How Kentucky measures up to this benchmark today:

In 2007, only 1.7% of Kentucky's electricity was provided by clean, renewable sources.

*Benchmark 1 refers to annual, incremental  energy savings as reported annually by the ACEEE State Scorecard. Illinois and Ohio recently passed legislation requiring 2% per year energy savings over the next decade. Leading states are currently achieving incremental energy savings worth about 2% of retail electricity sales through new efficiency programs each year. They are also spending about 2% of annual utility revenues on efficiency programs, while KY spent just .4% of utility revenues on efficiency in 2007.