The article “Carbon output on rise in region” (Page A1, May 16), about the rise of carbon dioxide emissions from New England power plants, shines a light on the need to find cleaner, more efficient ways of using energy in order for states to meet their climate goals. Especially with the closure of legacy power plants, we must tap renewable energy on a broader scale. There’s another option that’s also helping, right now, to meet demand cleanly and affordably: energy efficiency.
In 2014 alone, electric efficiency programs curbed regional CO2 emissions by 977,436 tons — equal to taking 186,677 cars off the road for a year. States such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont are focusing on next-generation energy efficiency, including geotargeting, strategic electrification of buildings and vehicles, and advanced building policies.