Delivering Energy Efficiency Services to Wisconsin's Industries: Actions, Experiences, and Results from the Focus On Energy Program

Abstract

ABSTRACT Under its electric utility restructuring, Wisconsin established a series of energy efficiency programs with major components devoted to serving Wisconsin's industries. This article presents experiences and lessons from working with Wisconsin industries and their suppliers in an action-oriented approach to implementing energy efficient projects and practices. In 1999, Wisconsin began a pilot program for the development, testing, and delivery of energy efficiency market transformation programs. In 2001, a statewide program was initiated to enhance and expand the scope, territory, and variety of programs offered and markets served. While the pilot work focused on testing energy efficiency services with industry, the statewide industrial programs, in contrast, have been action-oriented, focusing on getting energy efficient projects and practices in place with industry and its suppliers. These industrial programs experienced many diverging and interesting results from early successes to missed opportunities, to surprise interests. The lessons of these experiences have now been incorporated into many program services and offerings, including in-plant technical support, targeted financial incentives, specialized marketing, and advanced technology support to better service Wisconsin's industries. Over 400 industrial companies and municipal water/wastewater facilities have taken advantage of these energy efficiency services. These partners and allies have used the program to support such actions as project development, in-plant assessments, facility energy management planning, staff training, specialty process enhancements, and advanced technology assessment and demonstration, all to act upon energy efficiency opportunities to improve plant operation costs. The challenges and experiences in the Wisconsin industrial programs serve as a valuable guide to the design, development, and implementation of energy efficiency in industrial organizations, facilities, and processes. Case examples from planning through delivery of projects, from starting and continuing activities, are presented to illustrate how energy efficiency implementation can be advanced and achieved.