WASHINGTON — Missouri remains near the bottom of an annual “state scorecard” for energy efficiency released Wednesday, but is showing a little spark.

Missouri tied for 41st in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s 2009 state rankings, jumping four spots from the council’s 2008 report. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were ranked on several policies, including 2009 state government initiatives and codes, as well as spending on energy-efficient programs in 2007, the most recent year for which data is available.

Of the 11 states tied with or ranked below Missouri, only one other (Alabama) improved its overall rating. California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon and New York topped the list. Illinois placed 28th, falling nine spots.

While some of the report’s findings are a positive, Missouri’s dependency on coal, lack of state government policies regarding energy-efficiency and nonexistent vehicle emission standards keep it near the basement.

“Historically, a state like Missouri has had low energy prices,” ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said. “One of the things I realized after looking at it is that a lot of the high-ranked states have relatively higher energy prices.”

Nadel said Missouri’s rise in the rankings could continue if the economy bounces back and energy legislation is finalized.

“We’re hearing a lot more interest from the Missouri’s energy office, Ameren and Great Plains Energy about doing more,” he said. “The rules for building new generation are very uncertain. Cap-and-trade in some form is coming — some of the details are to be determined — so there’s great incentive to postpone any of those decisions. As one CEO recently said to me, ‘You build a new plant, you bet your company. And I’d rather not.’”