Data Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021 State Energy Data System (SEDS), U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Analysis by CEC Economics
Highlights
- In 2022, California maintained its position of having the fourth-highest energy productivity in the U.S., generating $5.29 of GDP in 2022 (in 2022 dollars) for every 10,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of energy consumed. This puts the state behind the District of Columbia ($11.70 per 10,000 BTU), New York ($5.93 per 10,000 BTU), and Massachusetts ($5.75 per 10,000 BTU).
- California has continuously outperformed the rest of the U.S. in terms of energy efficiency gains as a share of GDP produced—averaging a 3.7% compounded average growth rate (CAGR) between 2012 and 2022, which is double the 1.7% CAGR recorded for the rest of the U.S. during the same period.
Challenge
- Although still in line with pre-pandemic trends, energy productivity gains in both California and the rest of the U.S. have stagnated since 2020. In fact, 2022 marked the first time since 2010 when energy productivity was lower than the previous year. Continued setbacks could jeopardize the state’s chance of meeting the SB 350 targets, which include requiring California to double statewide energy efficiency savings.110
110 California Energy Commission. Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act – SB 350. Available at: https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules-and-regulations/energy-suppliers-reporting/clean-energy-and-pollution-reduction-act-sb-350
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