DOE Recognizes Midwest Industrial Efficiency Leaders

DOE and Industry Plot Course for Major Efficiency Improvements

September 10, 2009 -- DETROIT, MI – The U.S. Department of Energy and Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm joined with over 300 industry, state, and federal leaders to recognize industrial efficiency leaders and plot a course to accelerate industrial energy efficiency in the Midwest.

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As part of the Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange that began last night and continued today, Governor Granholm and DOE announced 11 Save Energy Now awards recognizing industry leaders for their exemplary energy saving accomplishments. Attendees at the Energy Efficiency Exchange also had an opportunity to learn about new energy saving technologies and ways to improve industrial competitiveness, including technical advances and financing strategies.

“Improving industrial energy efficiency is a true win-win-win for the Midwest,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “It saves our manufacturers money on their energy bills and makes them more competitive; it creates new jobs implementing these efficiency measures; and it protects the environment by reducing our need to burn fossil fuels.”

“By implementing the latest energy efficiency technologies, American industry leaders will help ensure American businesses will lead the world into a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu. “Working together with American manufacturing industries to make their facilities as efficient as possible, we will be able to create new jobs, reduce industrial energy use, and limit damaging carbon pollution.”

As part of the Save Energy Now program, DOE works with private companies to improve their energy efficiency and demonstrate profitable business models that will expand markets for new energy technologies. Industry consumes about a third of all energy used in the U.S., with a large portion of the energy lost to inefficiencies. In the Midwest alone, industry accounts for 35 percent of the total energy consumption for the region and 16 percent of the region’s carbon emissions. By providing companies with the technical support and expertise to lower their energy use, DOE helps bolster industrial competitiveness, create jobs, and save energy across the industrial sector.

Last night, DOE recognized the following Midwest companies as Save Energy Now Champions for saving more than 250,000 MMBTU or more than 15 percent of total energy savings:

* Benlee, Inc. (Romulus, MI)
* Brose (Chicago, IL)
* Flex-N-Gate Corporation – MasterGuard (Veedersburg, IN)
* The Minster Machine Company (Minster, OH)
* Nease Corporation (Harrison, OH)

Additionally, Save Energy Now Energy Saver awards went to the following regional companies for saving more than 75,000 MMBTU or more than 7.5 percent total energy savings:

* American Augers (West Salem, OH);
* Barnard Manufacturing (St. Johns, MI)
* Flex-N-Gate Corporation (Royal Oak, MI)
* Metal Technologies, Incorporated (Ravenna, MI)
* Mettler-Toledo International, Incorporated (Columbus, OH)
* Vantage Plastics (Standish, MI)

A number of the states participating in the Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange will be using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support industrial energy efficiency projects. For instance, Michigan has announced $24 million of funding that will provide hundreds of energy audits for small industrial operations in the state and will provide financial assistance to those businesses wanting to implement measures discovered during the audits. In Minnesota, commercial and industrial efficiency projects are receiving $11.7 million; Ohio is directing $15 million for industrial efficiency projects; and Wisconsin is providing $55 million for a clean energy business loan program.

The Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange is co-sponsored by DOE, the American Public Power Association, Caterpillar, CleanTech Partners, Cummins, Focus on Energy, International Titanium Powder, and the National Association of State Energy Officials.

Source: DOE