NASEO State Industrial Working Group

NASEO State Industrial Working Group Webinar: Impacting Operational Performance and Energy Productivity Through Smart Manufacturing – April 28, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET: 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. Hear about CESMII and how its network can help manufacturers in your state. Registration link here. Please contact industry@naseo.org or Rodney Sobin (rsobin@naseo.org) and Sam Cramer (scramer@naseo.org) with questions.

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.

U.S. DOE announced more than $136 million for 66 selected projects to support transformational industrial technology R&D for reducing energy demand and improving American productivity in key industrial subsectors. These projects intend to accelerate innovative technology development to enhance the resilience and competitiveness of U.S. industrial supply chains. Selected projects are in six topic areas:  Chemicals and Fuels, Iron and Steel, Food and Beverage Products, Building and Infrastructure, Forest Products, and Industrial Preliminary Front-End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) Studies 

Industrial Heat Pump (IHP) Alliance Webinar: Industrial Heat Pump Economics in the United States, January 16, 2025, 12:00 p– 1:00 pm ET: The Industrial Heat Pump Alliance will hold a webinar exploring industrial heat pump (IHP) economics in the United States featuring speakers the Policy Analysis at the Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy (CAELP), Cascade Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) discussing industrial heat decarbonation economic and policies; IHP market experiences, end-user decision making, and early opportunities; and IHP demonstration opportunities and economics in the food and beverage sector. Click here to register

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.

DOE announced more than $43 million in selected projects to support the development of transformational technologies essential for reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across industrial subsectors. With 16 projects selected as part of a $38 million funding opportunity on cross-sector technologies and five projects selected in partnership with the Electrified Processes for Industry without Carbon (EPIXC) Institute, these investments will drive industrial emissions down while increasing America’s manufacturing competitiveness in global markets. 

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.

U.S. DOE Announces $3 Million to Support Industrial Decarbonization Workforce – DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) and the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) announced $3 million for a new Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative that will assist partners across the manufacturing sector to develop and disseminate instructional curricula and training programs focused on industrial sustainability, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. The resources will be available for workers at any level of training and education to help them build their skills and knowledge. IEDO solicits proposals from organizations with experience and networks in industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization; industrial heat electrification and hydrogen production; and low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources. Applications were due Nov. 1, 2024.

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 MESC announced $50M for six states (MI, OH, IN, KY, TN, IL) with significant automotive workforces to help small- and medium-sized suppliers adapt manufacturing facilities for the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain; applications were due October 15, 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.

DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Implementation Grant Program - Open Solicitation: DOE, in collaboration with ENERGYWERX, has re-opened applications for small and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMMs) to receive grants of up to $300,000, at 50% cost share, to implement recommendations made in assessments by Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC), DOE CHP/Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships, and other qualified “IAC-equivalent” programs. 

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

• 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

• Funding Opportunity Announcement
• DOE announced selections for the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program (BIL 40209), totaling over $275 million in federal funds for seven projects, with expectations for a second funding opportunity for $425 million to be released in early 2024.

• Notice of Intent

• Selections
• DOE $3.5B Notice of Intent: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 40207(b) Battery Materials Processing and 40207(c) Battery Manufacturing Grants Round II

• Selections
• DOE $3.5B Notice of Intent: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 40207(b) Battery Materials Processing and 40207(c) Battery Manufacturing Grants Round II

• Funding Opportunity Announcement (closed December 5, 2022)

• Funding Opportunity Announcement

• Implementation guidance to establish a rebate program for extended product systems.
• DOE Energy Efficient Transformer and Extended Product System Rebates: DOE has opened a $10 million Energy Efficient Transformer Rebates Program for owners of industrial or manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, and multifamily buildings as well as utilities and energy service companies for the replacement of a qualified energy inefficient transformer with a qualified energy efficient transformer. DOE also opened a $10 million Extended Product System Rebates Program offering rebates to any purchasers of qualified extended product systems (i.e., electric motor, electronic control, and driven load)  and manufacturers of commercial or industrial machinery or equipment that incorporates a qualified extended product system. A Rebates Portal provides more information and means to register and apply for rebates. Rebate applications for both programs must be received by December 8, 2023, with rebates available through December 31, 2023, or until funds are expended; whichever comes first.

• Grants for Small and Medium-sized Manufacturers: U.S. DOE, in collaboration with its Partnership Intermediary, ENERGYWERX, has re-opened solicitation for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to receive 50% cost-shared grants of up to $300,000 to implement recommendations made by Industrial Assessment Centers, Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships (CHP TAPs), and qualified third-party assessors. DOE is also soliciting applications from third-party assessors interested in qualifying as “IAC-equivalent” so their clients can be eligible for future implementation grants. Implementation grant applicants and applicants for third-parties seeking “IAC-equivalent” qualification may click here for more information (next deadline for both are December 31, 2023, 5:00 pm ET.) RSVP here. A list of Round 1 Implementation Grant Awardees and qualified third-party assessors can be found here.

• Funding Opportunity Announcement
• DOE announced 27 new Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) and Building Training and Assessment Centers (BTAC) with intent (expected in early 2024) to release additional opportunities to expand the network of IACs at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs (including combined labor-management training programs).

• Funding Opportunity Announcement

• Funding Opportunity (closed November 21, 2022)

• Funding Opportunity Announcement

• Funding Opportunity Announcement
• DOE Announces State Manufacturing Leadership Program Selectees: The DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) announced $22 million in funding for 12 state-run programs under the State Manufacturing Leadership Program. The programs will make smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing more accessible to domestic manufacturing firms. The State Manufacturing Leadership Program aims to remove barriers that prevent innovative, data-driven tools and technologies from being used by small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs).  Selected states include CA, CT, HI, IA, MA, MI, MT, NC, OH, PA, RI, and VA. The IA, MT, and OH lead organizations include their State Energy Offices. Additional information can be found here, with fact sheets for each selected state here.

• Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (§48C) Concept Papers Due July 31st: Under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) program, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with U.S. DOE, announced up to $4 billion in first round tax credits for projects that expand clean energy manufacturing and recycling and critical materials refining, processing and recycling, and for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities. Among priority areas are manufacture of products and components related to clean hydrogen, electric grid, heat pumps, electric vehicles, nuclear energy, solar energy, sustainable aviation fuels, and wind energy. Approximately $1.6 billion of this allocation will be set aside for projects in designated energy communities. The program will provide an investment tax credit of up to 30% of qualified investments for certified projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements. Concept papers (5-pages in length), due July 31 by 12:00 noon ET, are required to be eligible to apply for this first round of tax credit. Please visit the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) program for more information, including guidance and access to the applicant portal.     

• U.S. Treasury/IRS announcement on proposed guidance on 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit.

• $10B Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program oriented toward electrified vehicle manufacture