Energy Program Receives $5 Million Contract

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program recently won a five-year, $5 million contract from the U.S. Department of Energy to operate DOE’s new Industries of the Future Clearinghouse.

The IOF Clearinghouse began providing information and technical assistance to the nine most energy- and resource-intensive industries in the country on Wednesday.

“WSU is pleased to partner with the Department of Energy and our nation’s industries to help industry become more competitive in the global marketplace,” said Samuel Smith, president of Washington State University.

Smith’s remarks parallel DOE’s Office of Industrial Technologies goal of creating partnerships among industry, government and non-industrial organizations to research, develop and deliver advanced energy efficiency, renewable energy and pollution prevention technologies for industrial applications.

John Ryan, WSU’s IOF Clearinghouse project manager, said, “The new clearinghouse will help OIT provide a broad array of products and services to industrial customers: from the shop floor, to labs, to the executive suite. We will assist OIT in delivering a portfolio of productivity-enhancing products, services and emerging technologies to the right people that quickly meets their needs.”

Through various funding opportunities, OIT encourages industry-wide efforts to boost resource productivity through a strategy called “Industries of the Future.” This strategy focuses on the following resource-intensive industries: forest products, agriculture, aluminum, chemicals, metal casting, petroleum refining, mining, glass and steel.

“WSU already has a long history of success in operating high-volume energy clearinghouses that provide information and assistance to energy professionals nationwide,” said Lee Link of the WSU Energy Program.

“Our team of energy engineers, information specialists and reference librarians has always had a tremendous commitment to customer service. They’re excited to continue helping U.S. industry adopt energy-efficient processes that result in improved productivity and profitability.”

Link notes that clearinghouse callers are typically interested in opportunities for their businesses to realize fast paybacks from changes to processes and applications. “We help them assess their needs and then offer solutions based on system-wide approaches.”

Callers can access publications, engineering assistance and an extensive energy library via the clearinghouse’s national toll-free hotline 1-(800) 862-2086, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time).

The WSU Energy Program staff has developed and delivered energy information and technical services to audiences around the country for more than 20 years. A staff of 50 in Olympia and Spokane helps businesses, governments and individuals make cost-effective energy decisions by providing research information and solutions.

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