Manufacturing’s impressive gains in energy efficiency often come via new processes and products that do not necessarily attract major headlines (or Presidential visits), but still represent progress the U.S. economy must make toward energy savings and global competitiveness.

Take, for example, this advance as reported by The Environmental Leader, “GM Rolling out GE Efficiency Program at 20 Plants“:

A GE energy efficiency program with a less than six-month payback is being implemented at 20 General Motors plants, the two companies have announced.

GM has adapted GE’s Proficy Cimplicity software to tie the use of lights to the schedule of conveyers. The manufacturer then discovered other aspects of consumption that could also be tied to conveyer operations, including air supply houses, compressed air generators, water and paint shop ovens.

“Everything in a vehicle assembly plant is tied to the conveyor,” said Mike Durak, General Motors, Global Information Technology Manager. “A hidden benefit was that once we scheduled the conveyor we had a good view into what the plant was doing, so we were able to schedule the on and off of big energy consumers in the plant.”

Less than a six-month payback! And GM adapted the technology because it was a good business decision, one that saves it money.

And let’s extend a thanks to the programmers, too. Energy efficiency sometimes requires new equipment, sometimes new software. Impressive in either case.

Manufacturers in the United States are global leaders when it comes to energy efficiency and conservation, even as industry calls for additional development of domestic energy supplies.  They’re the flip sides of energy security.

From Glass Magazine, “PPG to help inaugurate Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster“:

PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, will participate in a ceremony Sept. 27 to celebrate the awarding of $129 million in federal funds to create the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster, a 5-year initiative designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the U.S., according to a Sept. 23 release.

PPG is one of five industry partners in the project, which includes 11 academic institutions, two U.S. Department of Energy laboratories, and several regional economic development agencies and community colleges. PPG will offer expertise in a host of energy-efficient building technologies for both new construction and retrofit applications with a focus on innovations for the building envelope.

The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster’s brochure is available here as a .pdf. Excerpt:

The Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) is a consortium of academic institutions, federal laboratories, global industry partners, regional economic development agencies and other stakeholders that joined forces to secure up to $130 million in federal grants from the Department of Energy. The funding will foster national energy independence and create quality jobs for the region. The GPIC’s efforts are intended to establish The Navy Yard, Philadelphia and the region as the national center for energy efficient research, education, policy and commercialization. Key personnel of the GPIC will be headquartered at The Navy Yard in a retrofitted building that will become a living  laboratory for energy efficient building design.

The GPIC’s plan for energy efficient buildings is the culmination of more than a decade of dedicated team effort. All told, more than 90 organizations have made commitments to the GPIC; a collaboration among research, education, industry and development to create and showcase energy efficiency strategies and best practices for building design.

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), sponsor of H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, said in floor debate on the bill (Congressional Record, Page H3219):

There’s been a concern raised about spending, and rightly so. This bill must be paid for. All of us who support this legislation acknowledge that. And we will have to vote on how exactly we’re going to have this paid for. And we will. But let’s keep in mind that there is a difference between a wise investment and wasteful spending.

From The Burlington (Vt.) Free-Press, “House approves Welch’s bill on energy efficiency“:

Unlike the stimulus weatherization funds, Welch said, his bill wouldn’t involve layers of government.

Democrats haven’t decided how the bill would be financed, but they say it would be deficit-neutral. Welch said the bill’s rebates would be a “perfect” use of unallocated stimulus funds.

“It will put people to work immediately … and what’s terrific about it is that the work they will do has lasting value,” he said. “It’s not make-work.”

Last week, before the 246-161 vote for passage, Rep. Welch visited the Jeld-Wen plant in Springfield, Vt., reported in The Rutland Herald and an official press release, “As House vote approaches, Welch highlights Vermont job-creating potential of Home Star at Springfield factory“:

In addition to JELD-WEN plant manager Al DiBella, Welch was joined at the event by Rick Bibens, who owns five Ace hardware stores in Springfield, Burlington, South Burlington, Essex and Colchester. Hardware and other home performance stores throughout Vermont would receive a boost in business when Home Star’s in-store rebates take effect.

“In addition to the financial and energy savings, the HOMESTAR program will allow workers in the window and door industry to not only keep their jobs, but it would also create additional jobs throughout the distribution chain,” DiBella said. “These are American jobs, producing American products, sold to American consumers, which would provide a significant boost to the American economy. Specifically, HOMESTAR will boost our local economy here in Vermont by saving and increasing jobs at our Springfield plant.”

The floor debate over H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, took a few turns during the last hour. Republicans criticized the bill largely on budget grounds and successfully pushed through a motion to recommit with instructions, (346-68). Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) then stripped out the disputed provisions and the House passed the bill, 246-161.

As far as we can tell, these were the significant changes made to the bill before passage:

• Rebates now sent directly to homeowners;
• The $12 million EPA public information campaign was dropped
• The $324 million Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program was eliminated;
• Pool heaters were dropped from the Gold Star program;
• Limited to homeowners with a gross annual income below $250,000.

The underlying incentives for installing energy efficient home modifications and equipment remain. (AP summary, including the too cute and misleading “Cash for Caulkers” sobriquet.)

UPDATE (5:15 p.m.): Here’s the AP follow-up story, which summarizes the changes:

Republicans succeeded at the end of the debate in altering the bill to say it will be terminated if it is found to drive up the federal deficit, a provision that will force Democrats to come up with an offset. The Republicans also were able to alter the legislation so that the rebates would go directly to homeowners. In the original version, homeowners were to receive a discount or rebate from a retailer or contractor, who then would apply for payment from the government.

The National Association of Manufacturers has just issued a statement from NAM President John Engler lauding passage: (continue reading…)

National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler and former Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham have an op-ed published in today’s The Hill supporting passage of energy-efficiency legislation on the House floor today. From “Home Star builds bipartisanship, energy savings“:

[When] the opportunity for bipartisan cooperation presents itself, members of Congress would do well by their constituents to take advantage.

The House schedule this week presents one such timely opportunity in the form of legislation that will create jobs in manufacturing and housing while strengthening our nation’s energy security.

The bill is H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, which we are supporting as a straight-forward, private-sector rebate program for homeowners who invest in improving their home’s energy efficiency.

The NAM also sent a “Key Vote” letter to the House on Wednesday, urging support for the bill. Key Votes are used in the NAM’s analysis of a member of Congress’ record on manufacturing-related votes.

John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, testified Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing, “HomeStar: Job Creation Through Home Energy Retrofits.” From his testimony (available here):

Along with recoveries in other parts of the domestic economy as well as the global economy, a sustainable upturn in the housing sector will be a key ingredient for getting manufacturing back on track, expanding production and creating high-paying jobs. In fact, NAM estimates that if a healthy rebound in housing takes place over the next few years (2010-2013), it likely will create 128,000 manufacturing jobs in the industries connected to this sector.

As currently drafted, the HomeStar proposal would spur consumer demand for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient products and building materials by providing significant and immediate rebates for home energy-efficiency retrofits. In addition to promoting residential energy efficiency, the program will quickly create jobs in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of energy-efficient products.

Larry Laseter, president of the Masco Corporation subsidiary WellHome, testified (statement here), and the company sent out a news release beforehand.

“The HOME STAR program will get our nation’s skilled construction force working again, benefit homeowners coast to coast and from all socio-economic backgrounds through comfort and energy efficiency improvements to their homes, and result in long-term energy and environmental gains. We urge Congress to expedite approval of this program so that Americans can get back to work.

Also on the panel was Mike Thaman, chairman and CEO of Owens Corning. His testimony is here. Earlier this month, reacting to comments by President Obama, Owens Corning issued a news release in support of the HomeStar program, “Owens Corning Supports President Obama’s HOMESTAR Program to Create U.S. Jobs and Improve Energy Efficiency in America’s Homes,” in which Thaman commented:

The current condition of the U.S. housing market provides a unique opportunity to take advantage of available product and skilled worker capacity to get this done. We will work to support the President’s HOMESTAR initiative and its many benefits.

The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press covered the hearing, “Welch’s energy efficiency program faces GOP skepticism.”

John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, will testify this morning, 10 a.m., at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing, “HomeStar: Job Creation Through Home Energy Retrofits.”

The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment will hold a hearing entitled “HomeStar: Job Creation Through Home Energy Retrofits” on Thursday, March 18, 2010, in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. This hearing will examine proposed legislation to incentivize home energy retrofits and increase employment in the construction and related sectors.

INVITED WITNESSES:

•The Honorable Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
•Larry Laseter, President, Masco Home Services
•The Honorable John Engler, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Manufacturers
•Michael Thaman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Owens Corning
•Christopher A.S. Pratt, Vice President, Construction and Development Services, LLC

The NAM Vice President Dorothy Coleman issued a statement on the HomeStar program on March 3.

Manufacturers are encouraged by President Obama’s comments yesterday on the Home Star Program and its potential to create jobs at a crucial time in our country. We believe this is a step in the right direction. At the same time, we think there is room for improving the proposal in ways that would result in the creation of even more manufacturing, construction and retail jobs.

We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to advance this important program.

Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire gave his State of the State address on Thursday, Jan. 21. He did mention “manufacturing,” the term we’ve been searching for in governors’ speeches this January (along with “industry”). In this case, the word was part of a company’s name included in the Democratic governor’s round-up of good things going on in business. From the transcript:

Let’s keep good companies and good jobs here in New Hampshire. We can and we will keep New Hampshire working.

Already we’re putting people to work repairing our roads, reconstructing water treatment plants, weatherizing 1,000 low-income homes a year, and helping businesses like Foss Manufacturing in Hampton lower their costs by becoming more energy efficient.

We must continue to grow the businesses and the jobs of the future here in New Hampshire.

We must keep New Hampshire taxes among the lowest in the nation. We should continue to ensure state government uses every dollar as efficiently as possible. We must ensure we have a skilled and trained workforce. And we must help entrepreneurs and new businesses compete and succeed.

Clean energy holds great potential for bringing new jobs to our state. Companies like GT Solar in Merrimack are already leaders in their fields. Other New Hampshire businesses are developing new products with tremendous promise.

Warner Power has created new transformers with the potential to save large amounts of energy. H&E High Efficiency Power Burners in Goffstown invented a way to retrofit boilers to make them more efficient, saving people 30 to 50 percent on their oil bills.

The governor also emphasized the state’s efforts in addressing the shortage of skilled workers, a recurring theme for governors’ this year.