NASEO State Industrial Working Group

DOE seeks nominations to serve on its Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee (ITIAC). ITIAC advises the Secretary of Energy on technologies, policies, and programs that will support DOE’s goals to increase the competitiveness of America’s industrial base, ensure continued U.S. leadership in technological innovation, and strengthen energy and supply chain security. Nominations to participate on the Committee must be received by June 13, 2025, and should be submitted electronically to ITIAC@ee.doe.gov with the subject line “ITIAC 2025 Call for Nominations.” Respondents to previous calls for nominations are encouraged to submit updated nomination packages as appropriate. See here for more information about ITIAC, its charter, the role of Committee members, and the nomination process.

NASEO State Industrial Working Group Webinar: Impacting Operational Performance and Energy Productivity Through Smart Manufacturing – April 28, 2025: Founded in 2016, CESMII is a Manufacturing USA institute funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Institute is accelerating Smart Manufacturing adoption through the integration of advanced sensors, data, platforms, and controls to radically impact manufacturing performance, through measurable improvements in areas such as: quality, throughput, costs/profitability, safety, asset reliability and energy productivity. Housed at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), CESMII is partnered with multiple Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centers across the nation and numerous member manufacturers, universities, technical assistance providers, and others working to advance smart manufacturing. Learn about CESMII, examples of its work with manufacturers, and how its network can help manufacturers in your state. Webinar presentation slides are here and recording here. 

ACEEE, 2025 Summer Study on Energy efficiency in Industry, July 16-18, 2025, Charlotte, NC

Renewable Thermal Collaborative, RTC Summit 2025, October 15-17, 2025, Washington, DC

RMI, Powering Progress: Industrial Decarbonization Planning at the State Level digs into industrial measures in 26 state plans and offering findings on key trends and gaps, as well as more than a dozen suggestions for states to build on their efforts, such as for CPRG-related plans.

NASEO, Manufacturing and Energy: Advancing Productivity, Prosperity, and the Environment - An Overview of Industrial Technical Assistance for State and Territory Energy Offices, provides an overview of the importance of manufacturing and relevant State and Territory Energy Office interests, a summary of various programs and resources for industrial and manufacturing technical assistance, and a few highlighted cases of states that are advancing manufacturing energy and environmental management.

NASEO State Industrial Working Group Webinar: Assisting Manufacturing – Focus on Pennsylvania - January 27, 2025: Pennsylvania hosts a rich industrial technical assistance ecosystem with a mix of state, federal, nonprofit, independent, and university organizations and partnerships. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Energy Programs Office (i.e., the State Energy Office) and Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) presented on their technical assistance programs and cross-program collaborations, including PennTAP services, upcoming DEP industrial assessments, and the new Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) program. Webinar presentation slides are here and recording here.

DOE, Transformative Pathways for U.S. Industry: Unlocking American Innovation - This study identifies and models strategic pathways that can transform the industrial sector to create jobs, enhance American innovation, and create healthier communities across the nation. It provides a blueprint for advancing the U.S. industrial sector and its competitiveness while supporting national supply chain security and reducing adverse environmental impacts. Addressing major industrial sectors, including cement and concrete, food and beverage, iron and steel, petroleum refining, and pulp and paper, the study finds that that there are a series of potential pathways toward beneficial industrial transformation.

Renewable Thermal Collaborative, Utility Engagement Playbook for Industrial Customers to help industrial firms overcome electrification barriers posed by electricity rates, grid infrastructure challenges, project complexities, and policy and regulatory structures. 

Pathways to U.S. Industrial Transformation: Unlocking American Innovation: This vision study will identify and explore each of these pathways and how they can be pursued together to chart a course to an industrial transformation.

ENERGYWERX has opened a new round for Industrial Training & Assessment Center (IAC) [formerly Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC)] implementation grants. Small and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMMs) can apply for receive grants of up to $300,000 per unique assessment recommendation, at a 50% cost share, to implement recommendations from ITAC/IAC, DOE Onsite Energy/CHP TAPs, or other qualified “ITAC-equivalent” assessments. Please see https://www.energywerx.org/itac for more information, including office hour availability and application information.

• See here for the list of implementation grant selectees, award levels, and project types so far as well as the updated list of “ITAC-equivalent” third party assessment providers.

NASEO Industrial Working Groups Forum: Industrial Heat Electrification and Storage - August 28, 2024: Industrial heating, which now often relies on onsite fuel combustion, is a major challenge to decarbonizing industrial processes. Arun Gupta, Founder and CEO of Skyven Technologies discussed steam-generating heat pump implementation for industrial customers (presentation). Caroline Jo, Vice President of Project Finance and Government Affairs at Rondo Energy presented on the Rondo Heat Battery that can provide 24/7 industrial heat while supporting load management and grid reliability (presentation). The speakers included discussion of business and financing models, including energy-, heat-, and storage-as-a-service business approaches. Recording available here. 

Industrial Heat Pump (IHP) Alliance is an initiative of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) to assist stakeholders interested in implementing IHPs by offering guidance, resources, and support. 

NASEO Response to DOE Request for Information on Transforming Industry – Strategies for Decarbonization (June 2024)

DOE announced $1.5 million for three teams of technical assistance providers under the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) program. The teams—led by the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Regents of the University of Michigan, and the Trustees of the University of Illinois—will help create and refine a Small Supplier EV Transition Playbook, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, to help internal combustion engine suppliers navigate the transition of their business model to EV or adjacent markets.

The Renewable Thermal Collaborative released its Chemical Sector Assessment providing an analysis of decarbonization opportunities within the U.S. chemical industry, which accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s overall industrial emissions. This report outlines effective strategies to reduce thermal emissions which could deliver over 60% decarbonization of key production processes by 2050. June 25, 2024 webinar recording available here.

• Industrial Assessment Centers - Small- and medium-sized manufacturers may be eligible to receive a no-cost assessment provided by DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). Teams located at 37 universities around the country conduct energy assessments to identify opportunities to improve productivity and competitiveness, reduce waste, and save energy. A database of recommendations from past plant assessments is available. New Regional Centers of Excellence and 17 Industrial Training and Assessment Centers at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs enhance IAC workforce training capabilities. Contact the closest IAC location about receiving IAC services.
• Better Plants works with leading U.S. manufacturers and wastewater treatment agencies to set ambitious energy, water, waste, and carbon reduction goals and commit to reducing energy intensity by 25% over a 10-year period across all U.S. operations. By partnering with industry, the Better Plants program aims to help leading manufacturers boost efficiency, increase resilience, strengthen economic competitiveness, and reduce their carbon footprint through improvements in energy efficiency.

  • Better Buildings Framework for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Planning: Industrial Portfolios (2023): This framework helps organizations develop an actionable plan that achieves Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduction targets. This resource is tailored for organizations with an industrial portfolio.

• Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) operate across 10 multi-state regions (that include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands). They bring specialized, regional knowledge to advise on economic, environmental, regulatory, and other issues impacting the adoption of onsite clean energy technologies. The Onsite Energy TAPs have expertise to advise on a variety of distributed energy technologies suitable for the industrial sector and are backed by world-class support from DOE’s national laboratories.
• Energy Management Programs, including 50001 Ready program the recognizes facilities and organizations that attest to the implementation of an ISO 50001-based energy management system. The program is a self-paced, no-cost way for organizations to build a culture of structured energy improvement that leads to deeper and sustained savings that does not require any external audits or certifications.
• Software tools for energy and water management, systems and equipment management, and decarbonization.
• DOE Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap
• DOE Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Industrial Decarbonization (and June 28, 2023, interim webinar presentation slides and recording), page also links to Decarbonizing Chemicals & Refining and Low-Carbon Cement sector reports. Also of interest, Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Clean Hydrogen and Carbon Management reports.

• New: ENERGY STAR Industrial Assistance Network – small and medium-sized manufacturers can access local energy management support to access tools and expertise, earn ENERGY STAR recognition, and receive training and lessons from experienced industrial energy managers.
• EPA recognizes 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned ENERGY STAR certification in 2023.

• CESMII - the Smart Manufacturing Institute
• CyManII (The Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute)
• EPIXC (Electrified Processes for Industry Without Carbon)
• IACMI (The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation)
• Power America
• RAPID (Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment Institute)
• REMADE (Reducing EMbodied-energy And Decreasing Emissions)

• State Best Practices Guide for Decarbonizing Industry
• The Landscape of Clean Hydrogen: An Outlook for Industrial Hubs in the United States

• Utility Engagement Playbook for Industrial Customers to help industrial firms overcome electrification barriers posed by electricity rates, grid infrastructure challenges, project complexities, and policy and regulatory structures.

• Chemical Sector Assessment

• Electrification Action Plan

• Thermal Batteries: Opportunities to Accelerate Decarbonization of Industrial Heating (and October 5, 2023 webinar recording link).
• Renewable Thermal Vision report examines six priority industrial sectors and eight technological approaches for decarbonizing industrial heating.
• Industrial Electrification in U.S. States report and 20 state level industrial factsheets
  • Follow-up study: Industrial Electrification in the Southwest States
• Policy Finder database of state-level policies that support the development and deployment of renewable thermal energy
• Heat Pump Decision Support Tools