The Motor Decisions Matter (MDM) campaign is a national public awareness campaign to increase 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's focus 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.

On April 2, 2008 the MDM Sponsors met in Washington, D.C.  The meeting provided a forum for the MDM Sponsors to accomplish the following objectives:

• Review motor-related sections of the recently-passed Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) and discuss anticipated implications for campaign sponsors and the MDM Campaign
• Review and discuss opportunities for MDM coordination with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star for Industry
• Review and discuss opportunities for MDM coordination with Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program

Dain Hansen, the Government Relations Manager for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), provided an overview of the new minimum efficiency standards for electric motors included in Section 313 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (see Legislative Update section). The MDM Sponsors are planning a national Webcast on June 5 that will provide information about the basic motor-related elements of the new law, what is currently known about the implementation process, and what is currently known about the implementation timeline. Information about the Webcast will be posted on the MDM Events webpage.

EPA Energy Star for Industry
Walt Tunnessen, the National Program Manager for US EPA Energy Star, provided an overview of the Energy Star Industrial Program and its resources, and lead discussion about potential areas for coordination with the MDM Campaign and MDM Sponsors.  The EPA Energy Star Industry Partner Program is an energy management commitment program. Energy Star Partners commit to measure, track, and benchmark their energy performance; develop and implement a plan to improve energy performance at their facilities; adopt the Energy Star strategy; and educate their staff and the public about their partnership and achievements with Energy Star. To assist organizations in achieving this commitment, Energy Star has designed a seven step process for Energy Management that provides a framework through which Energy Star Industry Partners can achieve superior energy performance. For more information, visit the Energy Star Buildings and Plants Guidelines webpage.

Working with Industry Partners, Energy Star has also created sector-specific energy management resources for ten key energy-intensive industries: motor vehicle assembly, wet corn milling, cement manufacturing, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, food processing, glass manufacturing, pulp & paper, petrochemicals, and steel (planned for fall 2008).  Energy management resources, such as plant benchmarking tools, are developed through a collaborative “Industry Focus” process wherein EPA works with industry representatives to develop sector-specific Energy Performance Indicators (EPI) and Energy Guides.  The process for developing these resources has also proven to be very valuable as it facilitates sharing of best practices, networking, and ultimately, the development of stronger corporate energy programs. Additional information about EPA Energy Star for Industry is available at www.energystar.gov/industry. In the coming months, the MDM Sponsors will be exploring opportunities to integrate motor management and MDM messaging into the EPA plant-level energy management guidance.

DOE Industrial Technologies Program
Paul Scheihing and Sandy Glatt of the DOE Save Energy Now Program provided an overview of the Save Energy Now Initiative.  One of the key components of the Initiative are the Save Energy Now Assessments through which DOE trained experts assess a facility’s pump, compressed air, steam process heating, and/or fan system system(s). The long term goal of the Initiative is to improve the overall energy performance of the industrial sector.  The Save Energy Now Assessments include diagnostic tools and expert training in the areas listed above.  Several completed facility assessments are posted on DOE’s Completed Plant Assessment website.

Mr. Scheihing also reported on a second DOE-lead initiative, the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Partnership. The mission of the SEP Partnership is to improve the energy intensity of the U.S. manufacturing sector by 25% over a ten year period. This will be accomplished through a three step process:

1. Implementation of an Energy Management Standard (in the near term, as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard and in the long term, as an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard)
2. Application of System Assessment Standards for industrial systems (pumping, compressed air, steam, process heating) that are built upon industry best practices
3. Measurement and Validation of energy savings through a third-party certifier

Over the coming months, the MDM Sponsors will further investigate and pursue opportunities to coordinate MDM motor management activities and messaging with DOE and EPA. As these opportunities develop, information will be made available on the MDM Website and announced through the MDM newsletter.

In December 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, into law (Public Law 110-140). As outlined in Section 313, the law affects electric motor efficiency in 3 basic areas:

1. It will raise the minimum efficiency level for 1-200 hp motors that are currently covered by EPAct 1992 to NEMA Premium levels (NEMA MG Table 12-12), except for fire pump motors which remain at EPAct levels.
2. It will set new federal minimum standards for motors that were not covered by standards previously. The following motors in the 1-200 hp range must meet NEMA Energy Efficient levels (i.e. EPAct 1992, NEMA MG Table 12-11), including:
   • U-Frame motors
   • Design C motors
   • Close-coupled pump motors
   • Footless motors
   • Vertical solid shaft normal thrust motors (tested in a horizontal configuration)
   • An 8-pole motor (900 rpm)
   • Poly-phase motors of not more than 600 volts (other than 230 or 460 volts).
3. It creates a new federal minimum standards for NEMA design B motors, 201 to 500 hp at NEMA Energy Efficient levels (NEMA MG Table 12-11).

Summaries of the law are also available from National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and Alliance to Save Energy. A list of these resources is available in the Helpful Resources section of the MDM website.

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.

Plant Engineering “Efficiency Comes in Many Flavors ”
An editorial by CEE Executive Director Marc Hoffman was featured in the April 2008 edition of Plant Engineering.  The piece focused on the variety of efficiency program options available to industrial facilities throughout the United States and Canada, including educational programs, rebates, and custom programs.

Maintenance Technology February and April 2008
Maintenance Technology magazine runs 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 Best Practice Repair and Efficiency Program opportunities for motors. Print copies of the series can be requested.

MDM Sponsor Webcasts provide an educational opportunity for efficiency program administrators, motor manufacturers, EASA members, and others to learn about issues and current events relevant to motors and motor management. The MDM Sponsors will host two webcasts in the coming months, a briefing about the motor-related elements of the Energy Independence and Security Act in June and an overview of the results of the EASA State of the Industry research in July. Additional details will be posted on on the MDM Events Page.

MDM Sponsor Webcast: Standards Briefing
Tuesday, June 5 2:00 pm EST
Dain Hansen, NEMA Government Relations Manager will provide an overview of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). Topics to be covered include: the basics of the motor-related elements of EISA, what is currently known about the implementation process, and what is currently known about the implementation timeline.

MDM Sponsor Webcast: EASA State of the Industry
Wednesday, July 30 2:00 pm EST
Representatives from EASA, the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, will provide an overview of the results of their research project, the “State of the EASA Industry.” The 2007-2008 research will be presented at EASA's 2008 Convention in Dallas, June 22-24. This research will update the 2002-2003 study and will focus on three critical segments: the customer/end user; the service center; and the manufacturer/supplier.