Roundtable Focuses on Industrial Energy Efficiency as
Economic Driver for Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio, April 27, 2017 — Today, Advanced Energy Economy Institute (AEE Institute) convened a discussion with Ohio’s leading commercial and industrial energy managers, efficiency program and service providers, city officials, and thought leaders to share their experiences implementing effective energy efficiency programs. These conversations allow stakeholders to learn from efficiency leaders and help shape Ohio's policies to enhance the state's energy productivity for competitiveness and economic growth.
For today’s roundtable, AEE Institute brought together 12 energy efficiency experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges for industrial efficiency in Ohio. This roundtable was hosted by Melink Corp. in Milford (part of greater Cincinnati), a leader in building energy efficiency and solar energy development. Participants included companies like Siemens, Cooper Tires, and Energy Optimizers, USA, among others.
“Cincinnati ranks 30th among cities around the country for energy efficiency, yet the state of Ohio is leaving money on the table. There is an important role for efficiency to play in Ohio and addressing the opportunities and challenges with efficiency programs will help the state’s largest users reduce their costs,” said J.R. Tolbert, vice president of state policy, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business group affiliated with AEE Institute. “Collaborative, productive efforts like today’s roundtable show how Ohio can take the lead in energy innovation — and benefit from savings, growth, and economic competitiveness.”
The discussion highlighted successful projects completed by energy service companies in Cincinnati and throughout Ohio that have helped industrial customers, typically large energy users, make their facilities more efficient and competitive, significantly reducing their cost of operations.
The industrial sector is the largest user of energy, accounting for 32 percent of total electricity usage in Ohio. Various technologies and services, like demand response and combined heat and power, can make industrial energy use more efficient. While large cities in Ohio continue to make significant progress on energy efficiency, more can be done to help all consumers. Ohio is presented with various opportunities for improving efficiency programs. The group focused primarily on challenges surrounding the industrial efficiency sector, including financing projects, customer awareness, and improving access to data.
“Energy efficiency is a valuable resource that allows companies, like ours and our customers, to reduce the cost of energy per unit produced, thereby increasing our competitiveness and the competitiveness of our customers. And when you connect efficiency upgrades with improved data visualization, adaptive technologies, and controls, we are able to make more informed decisions that influence productivity,” said Don Wingate, Vice President Sales - Utility Solutions, Schneider Electric.
Energy efficiency represents a significant share of the total $200 billion U.S. advanced energy industry that is equal to pharmaceutical manufacturing revenues and approaching that of consumer electronics, and today employs more than 3.3 million people across the nation. For more information on the role and size of the energy efficiency sector in the United States, download Advanced Energy Economy’s Advanced Energy Now 2017 Market Report. To learn more about various energy efficiency technologies, download This Is Advanced Energy, a comprehensive technology directory with descriptions, photos, and case study examples.
About Advanced Energy Economy and AEE Institute
The Advanced Energy Economy Institute is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the public benefits and opportunities of advanced energy. AEE Institute provides critical data to drive the policy discussion on key issues through commissioned research and reports, data aggregation and analytic tools. AEE Institute also provides a forum where leaders can address energy challenges and opportunities facing the United States. AEE Institute is affiliated with Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a 501(c)(6) business association, whose purpose is to advance and promote the common business interests of its members and the advanced energy industry as a whole. AEE and its State and Regional Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 companies and organizations in the advanced energy industry. Visit AEE Institute here and AEE here.