Save the IAC

I am writing to encourage you to suport restoring the funding level for the Department of Energys Industrial Assessment Center Program. This program is part of DOEs 2007 budget for Energy Supply and Conservation. The Presidents budget request for 2007 is $4.0 million, down from $6.9 million in 2005 and $6.4 million in 2006. During this period of price volatility in U.S. energy markets, DOEs twenty-six Industrial Assessment Centers have worked with U.S. manufacturers, including hundreds of small and medium-size manufacturing plants in your region, to reduce energy costs and save jobs. Also, through cooperative agreements with the engineering departments at 26 universities around the country, this valuable program has produced young energy engineers who have a proven track record of providing energy-related solutions for U.S. manufacturers.



The Industrial Assessment Center program currently funds centers at 26 universities. With these funds, our centers provides energy assessments to small and medium sized manufacturers, located around the whole nation. These assessments are conducted by a team of highly qualified engineering faculty and students. Additionally, through their work in our center, engineering students have been trained to tackle energy issues when they enter the workplace. Our graduating engineers are recruited heavily by manufacturers, engineering and energy consulting firms, and utilities for their unique skills and experience.



If the funding level for the Industrial Assessment Center program is reduced to the 2007 budget request, it is possible that twelve out of twenty-six centers will either close or be forced to operate at a very low capacity. This will directly affect our ability to assist manufacturers and train young engineers in the region. I encourage you to suport the restoration of the budget for this successful and valuable program.

If you need further information on our center or on the IAC program, please dont hesitate to contact me, or visit the following websites: www.CENTERS site.edu, www.iacforum.org, www.iac.rutgers.edu, and http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/iacs.html.