Specifically, Section 106 of EPAct authorizes the DoE to engage industry in voluntary agreements to cut energy use at least 2.5 percent each year through 2016. Such agreements are carried out under the auspices of the DoE’s Industrial Technologies Program (ITP), which has a history of working with the industrial sector to reduce the energy and carbon intensity of manufacturing equipment, processes, and final products.
The DoE and ITP welcome the participation of all corporations and facilities, although they are particularly focused on industries of high energy consumption and rapid growth. Energy-intensive industries span aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, mining, petroleum refining and steel.
Among the chief topics for consideration, the DoE is seeking input regarding the need for national and/or international industrial energy management standards. Suggestions are also sought regarding any specific technical, technological, or plant assessment tools that will help industry to meet the initiative’s stated goal. The DoE is also interested in receiving comments with regard to:
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- experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from energy management activities;
- roadblocks and concerns that industry may have with reducing energy intensity by 2.5 percent each year;
- the most effective ways to motivate industry to participate in this initiative, including possible incentives, and;
- the level of interest in partnering with the DoE to achieve this goal.
For further details, please review the original request for information or visit the DoE Web site. Comments should be submitted to ITP@go.doe.gov by 8 p.m. EST on September 18.
