On Tuesday, the Obama administration announced the launch of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. SEE is joint endeavor of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, whose goal is to help states develop and implement the most cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades possible by 2020.

Energy efficiency is one of the quickest, most cost-effective ways to address climate change, says Energy Secretary Steven Chu.SEE will provide state policy makers assistance on particular policy and program issues, as well as DOE funding for results-based policies and programs that encourage energy efficiency. Examples of eligible programs include financing solutions, residential efficiency programs and improving availability of energy usage information.

The SEE action group will convene in March with a number of working groups set to meet throughout the year to work on specific goals. To lead its work, the group plans to use the framework set by the "National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, Vision for 2025," which was laid out in 2006. SEE plans to enact the vision five years sooner, in 2020.

The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is a public-private initiative to create a sustainable, aggressive national commitment to energy efficiency.
For more information on SEE, check out the EPA Press Release, DOE Press Release and Greener Buildings blog.