SEEA Congratulates Alabama and Arkansas on Selection to National Governors Association Industrial Energy Efficiency Policy Academy
ATLANTA, Georgia (Sept. 17, 2012) — The industrial sector accounts for about one-third of the United States’ energy use, and in the Southeast, energy consumption per dollar of GDP is even higher than the national average. Reducing energy intensity is a competitive priority for the region, and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) congratulates Alabama and Arkansas for being selected by the National Governors Association (NGA) to participate in a policy academy that will help them develop and implement strategic plans to improve the productivity and competitiveness of their manufacturing, assembling and processing companies.
“With increased deployment of energy efficiency measures, Southeast manufacturers are able to cut costs, increase productivity, create local jobs and reduce the need for new, costly generation resources,” said SEEA Vice President Mandy Mahoney. “By pursuing energy efficiency options through the NGA program, Alabama and Arkansas are making a significant investment in our region’s economic future.”
The Policy Academy on Enhancing Industry Through Energy Efficiency and Combined Heat and Power will bring together teams of senior-level policy advisors and other stakeholders to focus on identifying cost-effective strategies; designing new policies, programs and measures; structuring effective funding and financing options; and exploring innovative outreach, education and training approaches. Illinois and Iowa also were selected to participate in the policy academy.
“We are committed to improving energy efficiency and making businesses more competitive,” said Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe in an NGA news release. “Through the NGA policy academy, we look forward to continuing our efforts to make changes and innovations in the diverse industries that drive Arkansas’s economy.”
A policy academy is a highly interactive, team-based, multi-state process for helping a select number of states develop and implement an action plan to address a complex public policy issue. All four participating states will receive guidance and technical assistance from NGA staff and faculty experts, as well as consultants from the private sector, research organizations and academia. Funding for this policy academy was made possible by the Department of Energy.
