Leaders from the Field: Interview with Martha Gibbons, Director of Government Relations for SSAB Americas

The “Leaders from the Field” series features interviews that aim to shed light on energy efficiency and energy-related activities that are shaping strategic initiatives in leading U.S. industrial companies. This month, the Alliance interviewed Martha Gibbons, Director of Government Relations for SSAB Americas.

About Martha Gibbons

Martha Gibbons is the Director of Government Relations for SSAB Americas. Prior to moving to Washington, Martha worked over 12 years for both the state of Ohio and local governments on energy and environmental matters, including; solid waste planning, waste recycling, energy recovery from waste, water quality planning and hazardous waste management. Since coming to Washington Martha has worked in the waste management and steel industries, and spent a few years working in the US Senate, always focusing on energy and environment. Martha is a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

About SSAB Americas

SSAB Americas' operations are considered among the world’s most efficient in the steel industry. Currently, the company operates two steel mills located in Mobile, Alabama and Montpelier, Iowa together with three cut-to-length facilities in Toronto, Canada; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Houston, Texas. While sustainability efforts have been a long-standing practice within the production process, the company recently increased its focus to minimize waste generation and initiate voluntary energy-efficiency efforts.

Last year, SSAB steel mills in Alabama and Iowa recycled and diverted from landfills 43,000 tons of Electric Arc Furnace baghouse dust and both locations recovered 5,500 tons of additional material for recycling. Lighting in the Mobile facility is being modified to save energy and the company expects to replicate this project to the other facilities.

Interview with Martha Gibbons

Alliance: How long have you been in the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing (CEEM) and what do you view as the benefits for a manufacturer to join the Council?

Gibbons: I have been on the Council since start up. I think we are coming up on three years since the very first meeting. The preliminary work setting up the Council has provided an opportunity to meet with energy managers across a range of U.S. industry, and get a better understanding of what will help manufacturers become more energy efficient. SSAB is a very efficient steel maker- yet there is always one more thing we can do to reduce energy consumption, or use it more wisely. The U.S. CEEM has provided an opportunity to examine upcoming standards like ISO 50001, and the Superior Energy Performance program, and determine how we might best use them. We have also had the opportunity to provide feedback to the U.S. Department of Energy on the shape of SEP.

Alliance: What in your view are U.S. CEEM’s greatest accomplishments and/or significance to U.S. industry?

Gibbons: To be honest our accomplishments so far are simply getting the organization established and helping DOE prepare for the roll out of the Superior Energy Performance program. I hope that in the future U.S. CEEM can help provide the tools US industry needs to become more energy efficient. I think U.S. CEEM can be the link between manufacturers, technical organizations, Federal agencies and NGOs on emerging technologies and best practices that reduce or improve energy consumption in manufacturing. I also think that U.S. CEEM can become a forum for airing new ideas, and sharing best practices to achieve higher efficiencies.

Alliance: What types of things (tools, events, etc.) will drive gains in industrial energy efficiency in the United States going forward and what role do you think U.S. CEEM will play with respect to them?

Gibbons: I think the biggest driver for seeking energy efficiency will be the desire to remain competitive in a global economy. The gains will be realized in a number of ways, from capital investments in efficient machinery to the dissemination and use of best (energy) management practices. There are numerous programs already in existence that help manufacturers become more efficient. U.S. CEEM can help get information out about these programs, and gather information on how they actually work. It is important to have a place where businesses of all sizes can learn about new techniques, and seek help in implementing them- and provide feedback about what works and what doesn’t.

At the highest level continued investment in research and development in public private partnerships can provide breakthrough technologies. Perhaps the direction of this research can benefit from feedback from U.S. CEEM members.
I think tools can include instruction manuals, audits, workshops, conferences, mentoring, demonstrations, webinars, blogs or surveys. There is no limit to the way information, tools and skills can be developed and shared. What I think is important is that there be an organization that can help promote new ideas and an efficiency ethic to manufacturing in the U.S.

My hope is that U.S. CEEM will be able to showcase efficiency techniques and provide links to information, tools and experts and can provide a feedback loop that helps the U.S. government develop programs that really work, and that provide the biggest gains for very reasonable investment.
It is important to keep U.S. manufacturing competitive and clean, and to offer efficiency solutions to all businesses. I am very hopeful that U.S. CEEM can be a go to source for efficiency solutions for all types and sizes of manufacturers.