E.P.A. and Federal Partners Promote Sustainable Manufacturing in Communities

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) yesterday joined the Department of Commerce, the D.O.E., the Department of Labor, and the Small Business Administration in the signing of a memorandum of understanding promoting the Economy, Energy, and Environment Initiative (E3). E3 plans are local public-private partnerships driven by communities to coordinate and strategically target federal and state resources to assist local businesses in becoming more efficient, competitive and sustainable.

"E3 is a model for collaboration among manufacturers, utilities, local government and federal resources enabling economic growth and job creation in communities by making manufacturing more energy efficient and cost effective and improving its environmental performance," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "Every dollar saved on energy, materials, and cleaning up pollution means more money to invest in our workforce and a better quality of life for our citizens."

E3 plans already have produced significant financial and environmental benefits. Just last month, building on current efforts to green the supply chain, E3 partners announced the launch of a plan in Southeast Michigan that will promote partnerships and collaboration with a number of manufacturers and major utility providers throughout Michigan.

A recent E3 partnership in San Antonio, Texas, is helping a local detention-equipment manufacturer to realize increased energy efficiency that included $85,000 in potential savings, reduced yearly electric consumption of 159,000 kwh, reduced monthly electric demand of 48 kW, and reduced yearly natural gas usage of 36,000 cubic feet. In Columbus, Ohio, the recurring savings for 6 companies participating in an E3 pilot plan include $1.7 million in energy savings, environmental savings of $2.6 million, in excess of 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions avoided; 236 tons of sulfur oxide reduced; in excess of 250,000 pounds of water pollutants avoided, and solid waste reductions of 24,000 pounds as well as increased sales and jobs.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/greensuppliers/e3.html

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