State Energy Program
Cost-Shared Support
that Allows States to Target Their Own
Energy Priorities
The U.S. State Energy Program (SEP)
is the only cost-shared program
administered by the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) that provides resources
directly to the States for allocation by
the governor-designated State Energy
Office for use in energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and alternative energy
demonstration activities. The
30-year-old program was funded at $50
million in FY'10 and is authorized by
Congress at $125 million.
The Work of the States and Use of
SEP Funding
With these SEP funds and the
resources leveraged by them, the 56
State and Territory Energy Offices
develop and manage strategic programs
that support the private sector in
increasing energy efficiency, developing
renewable and alternative energy
sources, promoting energy related
economic development, and reducing
reliance on imported oil. All of the
activities of the states under the
program are conducted in support of
strengthening America's competitive
position and energy security. Examples
of SEP-supported work in the states
include:
- Fostering greater energy
efficiency in manufacturing to
retain jobs;
- Supporting private sector energy
innovations through such means as
business incubators and job
training;
- Advancing cost-effective energy
efficiency retrofits in public
buildings (e.g., schools, state
facilities) to reduce energy costs
to the taxpayer;
- Implementing energy emergency
plans to mitigate the economic and
security implications of energy
supply disruptions and related price
spikes;
- Delivering public energy
efficiency education;
- Conducting statewide energy
planning to ensure states'
indigenous energy resources are
identified and economic development
options are understood; and
- Piloting innovative energy
demonstration projects with the
private sector and research
institutions.
$1 in Federal SEP Funding Yields
$7.22 in Annual Energy Cost Savings
The states' ability to deliver
extraordinary economic and energy under
SEP has been demonstrated in every
state. The conclusion of a study
conducted by the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL), an in-depth
cost-benefit analysis of SEP, showed
each $1 of SEP federal funds is
associated with annual savings of 1.03
million source BTUs and a cost savings
of $7.22. Also, each $1 of SEP federal
funds is typically leveraged by $10.71
of state and private funds, making the
federal money go much further than
typical federal energy programs.
Further, ORNL found that in
just one year the states
produced the following results under
SEP:
- Energy Audits – 15,264
energy audits of residential,
commercial, and industrial buildings
were performed
- Retrofits – 12,896
buildings were retrofitted to be
more energy efficient
- Traffic Signals and Controls
– 92,488 energy-efficient LED
traffic lights were installed
- Alternative Energy –
6,434 alternative fuel vehicles were
purchased or converted
- Loans and Grants –
$30,403,388 of loans made;
$12,345,608 of grants given
- School Education –
604,050 students taught about energy
efficiency
- Energy Emergency Planning
– 78 energy emergency plan elements
were developed
-
Full-Text of the ORNL Report
-
NASEO Summary of ORNL Report
SEP Basics
SEP Federal Outreach
The documents below can be used for
federal outreach and communications on
SEP funding and project implementation.
State Energy Program Annual
Allocations to the States
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