The Motor Decisions Matter (MDM) campaign is a national public awareness campaign to increase industry’s awareness of motor management opportunities, increase demand for NEMA Premium^TM motors & best practice motor repair, and encourage the market to engage in motor planning. The Campaign was launched in 2001 by a diverse group of stakeholders including energy efficiency program administrators, motor manufacturers, sales/service centers, and trade associations (e.g. NEMA, EASA, CEE).

Currently in its third phase, the MDM Campaign remains relevant and credible to both industry and efficiency programs.  The focus of Phase 3 is to increase the number of existing sponsors and their representatives delivering the MDM message directly to small and mid-sized companies at the local and regional levels. We have found that by working together, sponsor representatives are more effective at engaging customers in motor planning activities than when they act individually. Building on the credibility, infrastructure, and educational tools enhanced in 2006, CEE accelerated sponsor delivery of the Motor Decisions Matter campaign in 2007 through a variety of campaign activities and events:

• Spotlight Calls: Spotlight Calls are one-hour calls (audio & web) featuring one or more motor incentive program(s) provided by an MDM campaign sponsor. The program administrators describe how the program works and how those in their service territory can get connected to it. The target audience includes sales and service representatives in the service territory, utility customers in the service territory, and any interested program administrators. Over the past year, 4 Spotlight Calls were held featuring Xcel Energy, PG&E, SCE, NStar & NGrid.


• Educational Webcasts: Webcasts introduce participants to MDM resources to assist with achieving sound motor management. Topics covered include the benefits of NEMA Premium motors, best practice repair, life cycle costing, and proactive planning. In 2007, 2 webcasts were held: Increase Profitability Through Motor Management and Jump Start Customer Conversations with MDM Tools. Webcasts are recorded and available for download from the MDM website.


• The MDM Campaign website (www.motorsmatter.org) is the campaign's publicly-accessible face that also serves as a clearinghouse of motor management resources. The website includes resources created through the MDM Campaign (Motor Planning Kit, 1-2-3 Approach to Motor Management, etc.) and links to helpful resources available from campaign sponsors (EASA, NEMA, DOE EERE, etc.). In 2007, the website received over 600,000 hits with 23,000 unique visitors.


• November 2007 MDM Sponsor Meeting: Twenty six attendees participated in the Annual Sponsor Meeting in Chicago.  Each sponsor group was well represented.  The meeting agenda included updates on campaign activities, sponsor news, and energy efficiency legislation. 


• CEE assisted the editors of trade and business publications to develop 16 articles describing the benefits of premium-efficiency motors, motor management, and the MDM campaign.  These publications have a combined circulation of 157,100 readers.

On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, into law (Public Law 110-140). Section 313 includes new electric motor efficiency standards. As summarized in the NEMA Summary and Analysis of the law, Section 313:

"...establishes new and updated standards for electric motors as recommended by NEMA. In general, general-purpose 1,200 horsepower electric motors that were first regulated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 must now meet the NEMA Premium® energy efficiency levels (MG 1-2006, Table 12-12), effective December 19, 2010. In addition, energy efficiency requirements are established for additional electric motors not presently regulated. For these motors, the efficiency levels are contained in Table 12-11, MG 1-2006. Motors include U-Frame, Design C, close-coupled pump motors, footless motors, vertical solid-shaft normal thrust motor, eight-pole motor, and a poly-phase motor with voltage of not more than 600 volts; fire-pump motors; and general-purpose Design B motors of 201-500 horsepower."

Summaries of PL 110-140 are also available from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance to Save Energy.

As of this writing, the proposed energy efficient motors tax credits included in the 2007 Farm Bill have not been acted upon by Congress. MDM Campaign staff will continue to monitor the status of the proposed tax credits which, if approved, would enable purchasers of qualified energy efficient motors to obtain a credit per horsepower of qualified energy efficient motors placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year. If approved, potential implications of the tax credits include encouraging end-use consumers to invest in premium efficiency and/or encouraging replacement rather than extend the life of inefficient motors. Watch the MDM website for details.

Through representation of a broad cross section of utilities, motor manufacturers, and motor sales and service centers, the MDM Campaign is well-positioned to be the voice that guides sound motor decision-making in both the period before the standards take effect and well beyond. The MDM Sponsors are planning a national webcast on the new standards in May 2008. Check the MDM events webpage for details in early Spring 2008.

The preliminary results of the 2007 Campaign Evaluation Survey, as well as attendee feedback at the November 2007 Annual meeting, indicate that the MDM-supported activities are valuable. Looking ahead, these activities will be refined for even greater impact in the future. For instance, in 2008, the Campaign will reach out to relevant programs, such as DOE’s Save Energy Now, to identify opportunities for complementary roles. In addition, the Campaign Sponsors will consider both long term objectives and near term implications in a landscape of changing efficiency standards for motors. 

Several campaign activities for 2008 have already been planned, including Spotlight Calls (BC Hydro and Southern California Edison) and webcasts (Standards Briefing, EASA "State of the Industry" Research Project, and Motor Management & the New 1-2-3). A Spring MDM Sponsors meeting, to focus on the new efficiency legislation and identify opportunities for coordination with US DOE and US EPA, is planned for April. The potential value of creating a “Speakers Bureau” is also being explored. The "Speakers Bureau" would provide the means through which MDM sponsors would make themselves available to give presentations about motor management and the Campaign at industry trade shows and conferences. Watch the MDM website for details.

Press Release , June 2007: "Fresh Look at Motor Efficiency Resources "
MDM staff periodically circulates press releases to major news outlets as well as national trade publications. This press release highlights MDM resources that are free and easily accessed on the Web site, and directs attention to the revised Program Summary for Motors and Drives. The press release was picked up by several on-line news sources including Forbes, Canada's Centre for Energy, and Yahoo! Finance.

Food & Beverage Packaging "Motors and Drives: The Right Motors Can Empower Savings"
The December 2007 edition of Food & Beverage Packaging featured an article highlighting the importance of selecting the correct size and type motor to maximize efficiency and minimize costs.  Several MDM Sponsors were quoted including Chris Medinger (Leeson Electric), John Malinowski (Baldor), Ted Jones (CEE), and Rob Boteler (Emerson).

Engineered Systems Magazine “Efficiency Incentives:  Get with the Program”
In January 2008, Engineered Systems Magazine debuted a new quarterly column designed to keep readers informed about rebate-related issues and trends.  Each issue will focus on at least one energy-related technology and provide insight into applicable funding sources.  The January column focused on motor-related savings, and referenced MDM in the context of life cycle cost vs. first cost, MotorUp rebates, motor programs, and the use of Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD).

January 2008: Plant Engineering “The Many Roads to Real Sustainability”
An editorial by CEE Executive Director Marc Hoffman was featured in the January 2008 edition of Plant Engineering.  The piece focused on four potential paths to achieving energy and climate-related sustainability recently discussed by a group of senior corporate executives from a variety of manufacturing and commercial companies, Global Business Network and the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR. The report, Energy Strategies for the Road Ahead is available for download from DOE.

Maintenance Technology November, 2007 and February, 2008
Both magazines run a monthly column ("Boosting Your Bottom Line") contributed by MDM project staff. The column provides a systematic discussion of motor management strategies ranging from motor planning to creating a spares inventory. Recent columns focused on Energy Star and BestPractice Repair. Print copies of the series can be requested.

MDM Sponsor Spotlight Call: BC Hydro
Thursday, February 21
MDM Sponsor Spotlight calls are one-hour calls featuring motor-related energy efficiency program(s) provided by an MDM campaign sponsor. The program administrators talk about how the program works and how those in their service territory can get connected to it. During the February 21 MDM Sponsor Spotlight Call, Program Administrators from BC Hydro, one of the largest utilities in Canada, reviewed the BC Hydro Power Smart Partners program, and highlighted the success and lessons learned from a recent Motor Management Plan (MMP) pilot project. See the MDM Event Site to download the presentation and notes.

MDM Sponsor Spring Meeting
Wednesday, April 2
During the January 2008 Sponsor Conference Call, participants discussed the need for a Spring Sponsor Meeting. This meeting will provide the opportunity to bring sponsors together to discuss key topics such as the recent motor standards legislation, coordination opportunities with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any new program updates. The meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. to coincide with other related events (e.g. CEE Market Transformation Symposium, Energy Star Banquet, etc.). Additional details will be available soon on the MDM website.