U.S. To Invest $265 Million: Creating Green Jobs in Industry Energy Efficiency, Green IT and Nanotech

The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu  has announced plans to provide $256 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency
improvements in major industrial sectors across the American economy.
The funding is targeted at reducing the energy consumption of America's
manufacturing and information technology (IT) industries, while creating green jobs
and stimulating economic growth. These programs will help create
manufacturing jobs quickly, along with jobs for technicians and experts
who will be needed in the long-term to maintain and operate the new
equipment.

Secretary Chu

Supporting the development of the latest industrial
technologies plays an important role in helping U.S. industry to lead
the world in energy efficiency and productivity. Working together with American manufacturing and IT industries, we will be able to create new jobs, reduce industrial energy use and limit damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

Projects being funded under the Recovery Act will focus on three main areas:

Combined Heat and Power, District Energy Systems, Waste Energy Recovery Systems, and Efficient Industrial Equipment ($156 Million)

Combined Heat and Power, District Energy, and Waste
Energy Recovery deployment and demonstration projects under the
Recovery Act represent proven and effective near-term energy options to
help the United States enhance energy efficiency, ensure environmental quality, promote economic growth, and foster a robust energy infrastructure. These technologies can be deployed in industrial and residential settings to improve efficiency, control costs, and limit greenhouse gas emissions - making U.S. industry more productive and more competitive. Combined Heat and Power and District Energy Systems can achieve efficiencies of 80% or better compared to roughly 45% for conventional heat and power production; waste recovery systemshave the potential to save 17 gigawatts of energy nationwide annually.

Improved Energy Efficiency for Information and Communication Technology ($50 Million)

As information and communication technology (ICT) services continue to
converge, these industries face increasingly similar challenges to
control the power usage of their microprocessors or servers and
supporting power and cooling systems. This project will select and fund
applicants to conduct research, development, and demonstration projects
to promote new technologies that improve energy efficiency in the ICT sector.

Advanced Materials in Support of Advanced Clean Energy Technologies and Energy-Intensive Processes ($50 Million)

The DOE will support research, development, and demonstration projects for advanced industrial materials that can be used in fuel flexibility programs, combined heat and power technologies, energy intensive processes, and nanomaterials andnanomanufacturing.
These projects will help the American industrial sector increase
competitiveness, while rapidly introducing advanced technologies.