North Carolina Utility Savings Initiative Wins Innovations Award

The honor was announced Tuesday during the council's Southern Legislative Conference

July 20, 2007

WAKE COUNTY NC NEWS -- The State Energy Office of the NC Department of Administration has won the prestigious Council of State Governments' Regional Innovations Award in recognition of the Utility Savings Initiative for State Facilities, the energy office's program for cost savings at state and university facilities.

The honor was announced Tuesday during the council's Southern Legislative Conference annual meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia. A total of 113 programs were nominated for the award for innovation by state governments in the South.

Larry Shirley, director of the State Energy Office humbly expressed honor in receiving the Award Tuesday by saying: "We were competing against all of the innovative state programs from Texas to Maryland, so we are honored to receive this recognition. It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of hundreds of state and university employees who committed themselves to saving energy and improving our state's environment."

The mission of the State Energy Office's Utility Savings Initiative program is to reduce energy consumption and costs in North Carolina state agencies and public universities by 20 percent in five years. Created in 2002, the State Energy Office's Utility Savings Initiative program has saved North Carolina taxpayers more than $66 million in avoided utility costs in state facilities through a comprehensive approach that includes efficiency measures, rate negotiations, billing error corrections and performance contracting projects.

The Utility Savings Initiative was launched by Governor Easley during the state's 2001 budget crisis to help stretch state funds. The Initiative has grown to include all state agencies, the 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina system and, most recently, a pilot program at nine community colleges. The lead-by-example program is accelerating its work with state buildings and broadening the effort with the goal of including all community colleges, public schools and local governments.

The Council of State Governments (CSG) is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a national organization that serves the executive, judicial and legislative branches of state government through leadership education, research and information services. The annual Innovations Award highlights programs and initiatives that provide insight into major policy trends for states, commonwealths and territories on a national and regional basis.

The State Energy Office is North Carolina's leading independent resource for information and consumer programs that promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels for a sustainable energy future.