ACEEE NEWS RELEASE
INDUSTRY-ADVOCATE
AGREEMENT MEANS MAJOR MOTOR ELECTRICITY SAVINGS
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
March 27, 2007
Washington, D.C.—The
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have agreed
to a new set of proposed energy efficiency standards for industrial
electric motors. Because motors use more electricity than any other
end-use technology, it is estimated that the new standards will
achieve major electricity savings. ACEEE and NEMA have submitted
letters containing these recommendations to the House Energy and
Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
for their consideration in energy legislation now under development.
"These
standards will provide major energy and cost savings to industrial
and commercial motor users while helping to moderate the growth
in electricity demand in this country," said ACEEE's motor
expert Dr. Neal Elliott, Industrial Program director. "In the
industrial sector, motors account for over two-thirds of the electricity
consumed. These standards will save over 8 trillion kilowatt-hours
by 2030, with a net cost savings to electric consumers of almost
$500 million."
In brief, the
agreement recommends that by a date that is 36 months from the date
of enactment, minimum energy efficiency standards be established
or increased for three broad categories of electric motors:
- The minimum
efficiency standards of general purpose, integral-horsepower induction
motors currently covered by federal efficiency standards should
be increased to the "NEMA Premium" efficiency level
specified in NEMA Standards Publication MG-1 (2006), Table 12-12,
with the exception of "fire pumps" that will remain
at the current Table 12-11 level as specified in EPAct 1992. This
level of efficiency is already required for new motors acquired
for federal facilities by the purchasing guidelines of the Federal
Energy Management Program.
- Efficiency
standards should be enacted for seven types of low voltage poly-phase,
integral-horsepower induction motors not currently covered under
federal law. Specifically, seven motor modifications excluded
from EPAct 1992 standards of electric motors sized from 1 to 200
horsepower should meet the efficiency standards currently applicable
to general purpose motors of the same size (i.e., efficiency levels
specified in NEMA Standards Publication MG-1 [2006], Table 12-11).
- In addition,
general purpose motors of NEMA design "B" 201 to 500
horsepower should meet energy-efficient levels specified in NEMA
Standards Publication MG-1 (2006), Table 12-11.
"This
agreement demonstrates the mutual benefits that industry and the
energy efficiency community can accomplish by working together,"
said Susan Coakley, Executive Director of Northeast Energy Efficiency
Partnerships (NEEP), a Lexington, Mass.-based organization that
worked with ACEEE and NEMA on developing the proposed standard.
"We encouraged ACEEE and NEMA to negotiate this historic agreement
on motor efficiency standards as it offers to Northeast states much
needed cost-effective energy and capacity savings as well as reduced
carbon emissions. We applaud ACEEE and NEMA for their leadership
and partnership to advance energy efficiency."
In addition
to the standards, NEMA and ACEEE have recommended federal tax incentives
for motor manufacturers and end-use purchasers to accelerate the
production and installation of premium efficiency electric motors
prior to the standards' effective date. Most of these motors have
a useful life of over 20 years, so that any efficient motors purchased
in advance of the standards' effective date will yield benefits
for many years to come. ACEEE estimated that these tax credits would
result in an addition 0.7 billion kilowatt-hours and $40 million
in savings.
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About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.
About NEEP: The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996. Its mission
is to promote energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry
in the Northeast U.S. through regionally coordinated programs and
policies that increase the use of energy efficient products, services
and practices, and that help achieve a cleaner environment and a
more reliable and affordable energy system. For more information,
visit http://neep.org
About NEMA: The National Electrical Manufacturers
Association is the trade association of choice for the electrical
manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington,
D.C., its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products
used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control,
and end-use of electricity. These products are used in utility,
medical imaging, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential
applications. Domestic production of electrical products sold worldwide
exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn,
Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing, São Paulo, and Mexico
City.
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