On December 5, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire honored five industrial companies for their outstanding leadership in improved energy performance at the first Washington Industrial Energy Leaders awards ceremony at the State Capitol. The Washington Industrial Energy Leaders program was designed to recognize companies that are making exceptional progress toward improved energy efficiency. The program is sponsored by the WSU Energy Program, Washington State Department of Commerce, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and U.S. Department of Energy. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is the program’s founding sponsor. "Industry leaders are facing increased pressure to reduce operating costs and to do business in a more sustainable fashion,” said Jake Fey, director of the Washington State University (WSU) Energy Program. "The most innovative are realizing that enhanced energy efficiency allows them to meet and accomplish both of these goals.” Award winners will be featured in a special session at the Fifth Annual Northwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit, Jan. 16, 2013, in Portland, Oregon.