Department of Energy Announces Funding for Industrial Energy Efficiency

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday that $155 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go towards 41 industrial energy efficiency projects. The industrial sector represents an area that could see huge benefits from increased energy efficiency, as it accounts for more than 30 percent of all U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions. These funds will be used for combined heat and power and district energy systems, which generate the heat and power needed for many industrial processes independently from the utility grid. These systems use almost half as much energy as traditional methods. Additional projects include energy waste recovery systems and other efficiency initiatives for hospitals and utilities.

"To remain globally competitive, American industry needs to be energy efficient,” said Steven Chu. “The funding for industrial energy efficiency technologies announced today will support a robust American industrial sector and help to usher in a clean energy economy. Many companies already realize that improving efficiency saves money while helping the environment. These projects will make energy efficiency technologies more widely available, cutting energy use and reducing carbon pollution across the country."

The Department of Energy projects that the initiatives completed with this funding will result in energy savings equivalent to over 112 million gallons of gasoline per year. Texas recipients of this funding include the Texas Medical Center and Texas A&M University.

For more information, view the DOE’s press release.