For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jennifer Kefer, Executive Director, Alliance for Industrial Efficiency
202-816-9301, jennifer@dgardiner.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 5, 2018)—Today is National Energy Efficiency Day, and here at the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency, we are celebrating and promoting the great potential for industrial energy efficiency that we work towards realizing every day.
This year, Energy Efficiency Day falls at an exciting time. Today we—along with the Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, and the American Chemistry Council—announce our endorsement of the CHP Support Act (HR 6949). The bill was introduced last week with bipartisan support in Congress from Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), David McKinley (R-WV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Peter Welch (D-VT)
The CHP Support Act encourages the use of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat and power (WHP) systems by authorizing continued funding for a network of ten Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) for five years. TAPs provide CHP and WHP education to potential system hosts so that they can learn more about the technology and determine if it’s the right fit for their company. TAPs also provide screening assessments and guidance to sites interested in CHP and WHP before, during, and after installment. These programs help to ensure system hosts will have a successful transition to their new power source by helping them to overcome hurdles, such as choosing the correct system and identifying incentives to help with financing projects.
CHP and WHP systems are a proven and effective means for reducing energy use in the industrial sector. This in turn saves money and helps make US manufacturers more competitive, all while reducing emissions. What’s more, because these systems can operate independently of the grid, they help their hosts keep the lights and heat on during natural or manmade disasters. CHP already provides 12% of US electricity generation, but the potential is far greater – and the CHP Support Act will help unleash that potential.
Every day, the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency works to tap into that tremendous potential. The U.S. Department of Energy has identified 149-gigawatts of remaining technical potential for CHP installations. The CHP Support Act will ensure that technical assistance is available for those looking to build and host these projects. The Alliance is proud to support this important piece of legislation.
Read the coalition letter endorsing the CHP Support Act.
Read the full CHP Support Act text.
The Alliance also sent a separate thank you letter.