NEW YORK - A report from the National Resources Defense Council on oil dependence ranked states based on their policies to promote clean energy technologies and reduce oil dependence, with California ranking highest. In addition, it stated that 25 states currently have policies mandating stronger fuel efficiency standards for the state fleet.
The 2010 edition of the annual report, "Fighting Oil Addiction: Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for Change, based state rankings on promotion of fuel-efficient vehicles through clean-vehicle incentives, idling restrictions, and state fleet efficiency; grants for fuel research and development; development of fuel standards; and sprawl reduction and promotion of mass transit.
Following California are Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut. According to the report, the five states doing the least to reduce oil dependence are Alaska, Wyoming, Nebraska, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Twenty-five states currently have policies mandating stronger fuel efficiency standards for the state fleet. "While these fleets are small, relative to the total vehicles in a state, state fleet efficiency standards can provide a good model and represent a positive step forward," according to the report.
The 25 states are: California, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, Rhode Island, Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Maine, Louisiana, Montana, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, Idaho, Alabama, Kansas, and Mississippi.
The annual report also compares oil change vulnerability by state. Mississippi topped the list of states most vulnerable to oil price increases, followed by Montana and Louisiana. Drivers in Mississippi spend nearly two and a half times more of their income on gasoline compared to drivers in Connecticut, ranked least vulnerable.
Finally, the report called for states to take a proactive approach to transportation policies and that Congress enact a fuel-saving transportation law to reduce oil dependence.
