The Energy Department is working with U.S. manufacturers to improve energy productivity – the ability to produce more with less energy.
October 5, 2018
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Advances in additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, are examples of how the Energy Department is keeping America at the leading edge of innovation. | Oak Ridge National Laboratory
American manufacturing is the backbone of our nation and continues to drive our economy and strengthen national security. On October 5, 2018, Manufacturing Day, we acknowledge this great economic engine and celebrate all of the men and women who make it possible.
A strong manufacturing sector is critical to maintaining America’s global competitiveness and national security. There are currently more than 12 million manufacturing workers in the U.S. earning, on average, an annual salary of about $84,000 including benefits. The National Association of Manufacturers reports that in the first quarter of 2018, manufacturers added $2.33 trillion to the U.S. economy.
From its onset, the Administration took action to pave the way for growth in manufacturing. By streamlining federal permitting, reducing regulatory burdens and reforming the tax code, the U.S. manufacturing sector is booming once again – adding over 350,000 manufacturing jobs since January 2017. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), optimism among manufacturers in the first quarter of 2018 registered the second-highest level ever recorded, at 95%.
The Administration is working every day to strengthen American prosperity by lifting the economic burdens on our companies and on our workers so that they can thrive, compete, and grow globally. We are also committed to leveraging federal research and development (R&D) to progress next generation manufacturing technologies that will keep jobs here at home, ensure products are made in America, and strengthen the domestic industrial base.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Commitment
The Department of Energy (DOE) occupies a unique position at the intersection of manufacturing and energy. America’s industrial sector consumed 34% of total U.S. delivered energy in 2013. DOE is working with U.S. manufacturers to improve energy productivity – the ability to produce more with less energy – by harnessing domestic energy sources and developing innovative technologies.
This is why DOE is proud to announce a series of prize competitions focused on manufacturing competitiveness.
In collaboration with the National Association of Manufacturers, the Individuals Taking Energy Action in Manufacturing Prize (ITEAM) will recognize individual workers for improving energy productivity at their manufacturing facilities. The prize (up to $5,000 per worker, up to $75,000 total) is focused on rewarding employees on plant floors all around the country who are strengthening their company’s competitiveness and driving cost savings in the process.
This prize is part of the Sustainability in Manufacturing Partnership, announced in April by Energy Secretary Rick Perry and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The prize rules will be announced in the coming weeks.
All across America, manufacturers are working with DOE through the Better Plants Initiative. Better Plants is a voluntary program in which leading manufacturers pledge to improve their energy efficiency. To date, more than 200 organizations have joined Better Plants, including 14 companies in the Fortune 100, representing workers at thousands of industrial facilities across all 50 states. These partners represent 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint.
The 2018 Better Plants Annual Update is now available and since the program began, partners have reported energy savings of more than 1 quadrillion BTUs, which translates into cumulative cost savings of more than $5 billion.
The Department is also launching a series of small prizes in partnership with Freelancer.com, a crowdsourcing platform. The prizes on Freelancer.com are focused on advances in additive manufacturing, also known as 3-D printing.
DOE is focused on innovation in U.S. manufacturing through a wide-range of early-stage R&D, covering everything from high performance computing to critical materials and additive manufacturing. The Department’s early-stage R&D efforts lay the ground work for the private sector to commercialize new technologies and keep America at the leading edge of innovation.
At the Department, we will continue to do our part to drive energy and manufacturing innovation by working closely with American manufacturing leaders to help make our nation more productive, prosperous, and secure.
Mark W. Menezes
Mark Wesley Menezes served as Deputy Secretary of Energy. The Deputy Secretary is responsible for driving transformative energy progress and technology solutions through coordinated planning, management, and innovation. Prior to being confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Energy, Mr. Menezes served as the Under Secretary of Energy.
Having served as an executive at Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a partner at Hunton & Williams LLP, and a Chief Counsel, Energy and Environment, at U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce – Mr. Menezes has held many positions within the energy sector prior to coming to the Department of Energy. Before his service with House Energy & Commerce, he was Vice President with Central and South West, and upon its merger with American Electric Power, served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel for federal and state legislative and regulatory affairs.
Mr. Menezes has been named in National Journal’s “Hill 100”—top Congressional staff for his work on both energy and environmental matters. He has been frequent guest speaker and lecturer before numerous associations and civic groups, including legal education seminars where he has been called on to address the nation’s energy and environmental policies, utility restructuring, telecommunications, ethics, merger and acquisition practices, and regulatory and legislative processes. He has co-authored numerous articles, a practice manual, and been quoted in the New York Times, Law360, Oil and Gas Journal, Politico as well as interviewed by E&ETV. He’s been listed Best Lawyers in America 2013–2016, Corporate Counsel’s Top Lawyers 2006–2011, Washington Post’s Top Lawyers 2008–2016, and DC Super Lawyers 2012–2016.
Mr. Menezes is a graduate of Louisiana State University receiving both his undergraduate and juris doctor degree. Until joining the government he was a charter member of the Advisory Council, Louisiana State University Law John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, and served on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Chorus & American Youth Chorus.