§6349 Process-oriented Industrial Energy Efficiency

Summary

Provides grants to States so they can help factories use less energy, train people to do process-focused energy reviews, and help utilities create and test industrial energy programs. States must talk with utilities and industry when planning how to use the money. The head of the Energy Department must set rules for who can get grants within 1 year after October 24, 1992. Those rules must show the State considered integrated resource planning and must let utilities recover reasonable costs for doing assessments and encourage utilities to offer assessments and financial incentives. Grants are split each year among qualifying States that apply 60 days before the fiscal year, using a formula based on each State’s share of “value added” in manufacturing from the Census of Manufacturers. A grant can be renewed after 2 consecutive fiscal years if the money was used properly and utilities took part. The Energy Department must also, within 2 years after October 24, 1992, create industry-by-industry assessment criteria, keep a national directory of assessment providers and services, run an annual awards program for utilities, hold yearly meetings of interested parties, and coordinate with DOE and NIST centers. Money as needed is authorized to carry out these activities. Definitions (one line each): covered industry — certain manufacturing sectors including food, lumber, petroleum, and industries in Standard Industrial Classification codes 20–39; process-oriented industrial assessment — a review of the production process to find energy savings, reduce environmental harm, improve technology and product quality, and consider lighting/HVAC/building envelope and renewable energy; utility — any person or government agency that sells electricity or gas to retail customers.