At Northwest Plastics Ltd. we take our responsibility toward the environment very seriously. Part of our Corporate Social Responsibility efforts include being ISO 9001:2008 certified. We take our responsibility as stewards for the environment very seriously. Energy is on everyone’s priorities list. The effort to create more sustainable energy and educate people about how they can contribute to low energy costs and greater, more efficient distribution is evident everywhere. Here is a list of how people in every state are helping to realize a future that is powered through clean energy industries and sustainable green business models.
Alabama: 2013 was the first year this state’s government decided to adopt a comprehensive energy plan. The plan’s focus is on alternative mass transportation fuels and the integration of bio-diesel into the K-12 school busing system.
Alaska: Though Seward’s Folly is one of America’s kings of oil production, the state’s Energy Authority has issued nearly $6 million to refit public buildings with high-efficiency energy systems.
Arizona: The third annual Solar Summit at ASU places this state at the top of the list for America’s main solar energy producers and innovators. The Cotton Center and Paloma solar power projects are some of the most outstanding solar power complexes in the world.
Arkansas: The Arkansas Renewable Energy Association (AREA) is a grass-roots, volunteer organization that monitors meter accuracy. This group’s efforts save residents incredible amounts of money each year.
California: The largest energy efficiency project in the United States is about to begin with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric. Nearly $4 billion will be spent to retrofit and upgrade this state’s complex energy system.
Colorado: The organization Colorado Energy Citizens has a direct connection to the state legislature on issues concerning local energy. They have made inroads on issues ranging from additives in drinking water to the benefits of fracking (clean oil exploration) in the state’s lowlands.
Connecticut: Energy improvement districts in this state are voluntary. The city of Stamford adopted rules to allow residents to pursue alternative energy, instead of municipal power, as the main supply for their homes and business.
Delaware: New England is one of the least likely places to find solar power. Community Energy is providing ways for this state’s residents to get on-board with home solar panel conversions. In concert with its Clean Air Council (CAC), many residents are helping to shape a viable energy future for the area.
Florida: Lynn University in Boca Raton is undergoing an $11 million retrofit using Siemens technology to shave at least 32% from its annual energy consumption. This is the largest university energy project of its kind in the U.S., and is equivalent to removing 10,000 cars from the road system.
Georgia: Robins Air Force base has distributed over 9,000 high-efficiency power strips in its departments to consolidate utilities throughout the base. Multiple devices are now controlled with single switches.
Hawaii: The Island-based Hawaiian Energy Accelerator received funding from the Office of Navy Research in the amount of $20 million. Dozens of companies have added their funding and facilities to this strategic energy project.
Idaho: The Snake River Alliance and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) have helped the Pacific Northwest to become the leading region in the U.S. for energy efficiency. The wind, hydro and electric power it saves each year is equivalent to the energy needed for nearly 600,000 homes.
Illinois: The Exelon family of companies held its annual “Careers in Energy Week” in October. This interesting fair open to all Junior High and High School students in the state, informs thousands about emerging opportunities in the sustainable energy fields.
Indiana: The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded Indiana State University’s Recycling Center with a sizable grant to increase education amongst Indiana youth.
Iowa: Residents of Readlyn and Fairbank were the winners of the “Get Energized” energy reduction competition. They won new solar power systems for their city’s school systems.
Kansas: A geothermal energy system in Prairie Village, Johnson, KS has reduced the consumption of the town’s municipal buildings by over 30%. The geothermal engineering was provided by Energy Solutions Professionals.
Kentucky: In 2006, this state recognized its first four Energy Star Schools. Since then, nearly every district in the state has made improvements to be recognized.
Louisiana: In the wake of disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil platform explosion, the state is now undertaking efforts to drastically cut-back cheap fuel subsidies. This will pave the way for many other states converting to renewable fuel sources.
Maine: Governor LePage has aggressively reopened negotiations concerning off-shore wind energy. This project will bring hundreds of jobs to the state and create a standard of coastal energy production.
Maryland: The Kid’s Energy Corner on the Maryland Energy Administration Website is committed to providing interactive ways to engage youth in knowledge about energy efficiency. Their practical and universal approach helps children understand why conservation is necessary.
Massachusetts: Due to the Green Communities Act of 2012, more wind-generated power plants were installed last year than all other years combined. This state is poised to be the wind power leader in the coming decade.
Michigan: This state has always been an important gauge of the nation’s economic health. In 2013, over 3,000 jobs were created in Michigan specifically because of the expansion of the clean energy industry. Hopefully, this is a nationwide trend.
Minnesota: The Next Generation Energy Act requires all state energy companies to convert their operations to produce at least 25% of their power from renewable resources by the year 2025. This is one of the most aggressive environmental laws in the United States.
Mississippi: In 2013, Mississippi was given the “Most Improved” award in energy management by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). This is due mainly to the ratifying of the state’s Green Communities Act.
Missouri: In the past four years, this state’s government has reduced energy consumption and costs by nearly 22%. This is an aggregate total of over 3,200 government offices and buildings, and savings of more than $17 million.
Montana: The new Spion Kop wind farm is a 40 megawatt behemoth clean energy producer near Great Falls. This is an extraordinary achievement for one one the country’s least populated states.
Nebraska: This is the country’s leading biofuels producer. It’s corn ethanol industry is paving the way for solar and wind power by maintaining clean and equitable alternatives to traditional fuel production. As clean energy sciences prove the possibility of a sustainable future, the groundwork will most likely be laid in states like Nebraska.
Nevada: Many high-profile casinos and hotels are erecting “solar trees” to feed energy back into the grid. They integrate directly with roadside signage.
New Hampshire: Wood-based biomass grants are exploding in this state. They build clean fuel plants which provide jobs, clean-up the forests, and decrease the cost of regional energy.
New Jersey: Hurricane Sandy provided the perfect opportunity to adopt new clean energy legislation. Monmouth County and Ocean County schools are now requiring energy-awareness programs funded by the state’s large natural gas companies.
New Mexico: This state now has an official Energy Efficiency Awareness Week signed into law by Gov. Susana Martinez. It is the third week in January.
New York: The Youth Power Summit in Ithaca is the largest energy-themed gathering of school-age children in the country. Its focus is worldwide clean energy, local food production and social justice.
North Carolina: The Charlotte area has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of clean energy companies. Over 250 companies operate in only a 50 square mile area.
North Dakota: The North Dakota Coal-to-Liquids project is bolstering the American Lignite energy movement. Lignite is an ultra-clean fuel that can be used for anything from transportation to electricity production.
Ohio: Sponsored by the USDE, students in the Ohio university system can compete for clean energy project funding through the UCEAO. The 2013 winning project was centered on amplified wind technology.
Oklahoma: The Pew Research Center noted that 2013 saw the largest rise in the state’s clean energy employment. The field grew by nearly 7%.
Oregon: This state ranks number two in total area that is powered by renewable resources. Over 80% of its electricity is produced using hydroelectric facilities.
Pennsylvania: The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has targeted this state to be a leading clean energy entity. It believes the state can be 100% powered by renewable energy in as little as 10 years.
Rhode Island: This state’s $83 million energy efficiency program is proven by the NECEC to create no less than 500 full time jobs per year.
South Carolina: Santee Cooper Corp. is now this state’s largest producer of electricity from renewable resources. It has an impressive 151 MWs online or already purchased.
South Dakota: The home of the Badlands is now the number one producer of wind power in the country. Nearly 23% of its total power consumption is made possible by wind farms.
Tennessee: Part of this state’s new Energy Efficient Schools Initiative includes millions of dollars to install huge geothermal heat pumps in public school buildings.
Texas: This state consumes more energy than any other. It also leads in carbon fuel extraction. The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) law now gives local municipalities the right to levy tax liens on businesses for clean energy conversion.
Utah: Considered the “nexus” of all things clean energy; this year’s Utah “Climate Champion” was Mayor Ralph Becker of Salt Lake City.
Vermont: This small state leads the nation in per capita renewable energy production with six online methane digesters, 78 hydropower dams, the nation’s first statewide “feed-in” law, and nearly 80% of its consumption met through nuclear power.
Virginia: In a state built by coal, legislation has been sponsored to dedicate nearly 120,000 offshore acres for wind farming. The 2000 MW project’s goal completion date is less than a decade away. It will supply enough power for 700,000 homes.
Washington: The Grand Coulee Dam is the nation’s largest single hydopower producing facility. It has a total output capacity of 6,809 MWs.
West Virginia: This state funds the only US-China coal research consortium. It’s main focus is to help China, the world’s worst polluter, to embrace clean fuels.
Wisconsin: Robin Eckstein, a supply truck driver during the War in Iraq, was chosen by the Obama Administration to speak directly to the Joint Chiefs on the need for the US military to consider clean fuels options.
Wyoming: In the small town of Jackson (pop. 9,915), the Wolfensohn Challenge raised nearly $350,000 to begin an initiative to drastically reduce the area’s power consumption and convert to clean fuel power sources.
Now here’s a clean energy bonus!
District of Columbia: Though huge potential for “wind and hot air power” seems possible as a renewable energy source here, there are local entities leading the real D.C. clean energy effort. For instance, Union Station has signed a three year contract with WGES Clean Steps to operate 100% with clean wind power. This equates to a 19 million kilowatt hour reduction at this transportation hub alone!