On Wednesday, February 6, 2013, the Northeast-Midwest Coalition and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), hosted a briefing to discuss national priorities surrounding the U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Held in Washington, D.C., this event included perspectives from four State Energy Officials – Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island – on the development of state energy policies and programs, including energy financing programs and their economic impacts. Speaking to a congressional staff of over 30, Allen Stayman, Senior Professional Staff Member, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Jeff Genzer, General Counsel, the National Association of State Energy Officials, provided opening comments surrounding new activities being administered at the state level on energy initiatives and then introduced the panel of state speakers. The participants stressed that both SEP and WAP play critical roles in advancing energy efficiency and economic growth opportunities.