Florida - An American testbed, or a future seabottom?

Energy policies that involve utilities (the old DSM-way) were never totally out, but are coming back strong. ACEEE has them highest on their list in a fresh study for Florida.

This study is interesting from many perspectives. Firstly, it is a state that meets (and will suffer) climate change more than many others on the American continent. Hurricanes as well as a rising sea-level are in the deck. So, even if the ACEEE-study is rather conventional in its argumentation that energy efficiency saves money and creates jobs, it might very well be that there are other, more basic things on people's minds in Florida - like surviving!

The impact on jobs and environment could be an argument in itself, but recent research on how decisions are made shows that the tipping argument is something different. Related to the economy, yes, but not solely economy.

The full report is available free of charge as a pdf, but might require registration.

A reason to trust this study more than others could be that one team member is Skip Laitner, who has made many thorough studies for the US and its states on the issue of employment.