DOE Helps Accelerate Energy Efficiency in Industries on Gulf Coast
May 25, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy joined with over 100 industry, state, and federal experts May 21st at the Gulf Coast Industrial Energy Efficiency Forum to help manufacturers plot a course forward on critical energy efficiency projects designed to help businesses in the region improve their competitiveness while advancing clean energy goals. DOE co-hosted the regional event in conjunction with the Industrial Energy Technology Conference (IETC) as a way to help local manufacturers uncover opportunities for implementing energy efficiency projects. Notable energy savings already achieved by several participants were also recognized during the day's events with Save Energy Now awards, and five manufacturers joined the ranks of Save Energy Now LEADER Companies.
As part of its 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 United States, with a large portion of the energy lost to inefficiencies. By providing companies with the technical support and expertise to improve their energy management, DOE helps bolster industrial competitiveness, create jobs, and save energy across the industrial sector.
The following companies received awards at the event as Save Energy Now Champions for saving more than 250,000 MMBTU or more than 15% of total energy savings:
- Bollinger Shipyards: Lockport, Louisianna
- Citgo Refining Company: Corpus Christi, Texas
- Gerdau Ameristeel: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Mid-South Metallurgical: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Morrill Motors: Erwin, Tennessee
- Sanderson Pipe Corporation: Sanderson, Florida
- Southern States LLC: Hampton, Georgia
- vonGal Corporation: Montgomery, Alabama
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% total energy savings:
- 3M: Decatur, Alabama
- Bollinger Shipyards: Amelia, Louisiana
- Citgo Refining Company: Corpus Christi, Texas
- Coats and Clark: Albany, Georgia
- Cooper Tire: Texarkana, Arizona
- Metal Industries Inc.: Bushnell, Florida
- Owens Corning: Houston, Texas
- Rigid Pak Corporation: Juncos, Puerto Rico
- Sherwin-Williams Minwax: Flora, Illinois
The event's activities also included a ceremony for manufacturers stepping forward to become participants in the DOE-sponsored Save Energy Now LEADER initiative. The companies signing the initiative's voluntary pledge to pursue a 25% reduction in energy intensity over 10 years were: Alcoa (New York, New York), CalPortland (Glendora, California), Eastman (Kingsport, Tennessee), Raytheon Corporation (Waltham, Massachusetts), and Lufkin Industries (Lufkin, Texas). These companies are establishing themselves among the vanguard of manufacturers taking proactive steps to harness the benefits of energy efficiency in their operations. As LEADER Companies they will now serve as role models for others in industry, demonstrating energy management practices that can help to reduce energy intensity, increase cost savings, and improve environmental performance.
During the "business exchange" portion of the event, industrial manufacturers from across Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as critical industrial manufacturers from neighboring states, were paired with organizations with technical and financial resources to help those manufacturers implement energy efficiency projects. The resources were provided by a collection of local governments, utilities, private companies, and non-profit entities.
To learn more about DOE's industrial energy efficiency efforts, visit the Industrial Technologies Program Web site.
To learn more about Save Energy Now and the Save Energy Now LEADER initiative, visit the Save Energy Now Web site.
