On May 27, E3: Economy, Energy and the Environment partners, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Commerce (DOC), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) along with Alabama Governor Bob Riley visited the Mercedes-Benz facility in Vance, Ala. to witness the signing of the Alabama E3 charter. The event, hosted by the Alabama Technology Network (ATN), is a kick-off celebration to promote sustainable manufacturing in Alabama through the Alabama E3 partnership.
These businesses are leading the way by becoming environmental stewards in their communities, while at the same time, helping to advance green economies,” said EPA Acting Deputy Regional Administrator Beverly Banister. “E3 partnerships advance self-sustaining and replicable processes used to prevent pollution, address energy challenges, and deliver valuable technical assessments and training while stimulating economic growth."
The Alabama E3 partners are working with the automotive supply manufacturers in the cities of Huntsville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa to provide:
- process, materials and energy efficiency assessments;
- access to affordable loans for energy efficiency improvements through the Alabama Energy Revolving Loan Fund; and
- training for workforce development to ensure that Alabama’s workers can continue to support Alabama’s manufacturers in an era focused on sustainability.
In conjunction with the five federal partners, the Alabama E3 initiative is sponsored at the state and local level by the Alabama Technology Network (ATN), Alabama Power Company, Alabama Gas Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Industrial Assessment Center-University of Alabama, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs – Energy Division, Alabama Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, Green Jobs Alliance, Appalachian Regional Commission, Alabama Manufacturing Associations, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation.
E3 is a joint collaboration among five U.S. federal agencies: EPA, DOC, SBA, DOL, and the DOE. These agencies work directly with state and local partners to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers. Leveraging its pool of existing resources, the E3 Team generates and provides direct, customized technical assessments, training, and recommendations to help manufacturers reduce their costs, materials, energy use, and environmental impacts.
More information about E3 is available at http://www.epa.gov/greensuppliers/e3.html.
