NEMA AND ACEEE Reach Agreement on Industrial Motor Efficiency Standards

-- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 4/16/2007 1:59:00 PM

The National Electrical Manufacturers Assn. the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) have announced that they have reached consensus on federal standards for energy-efficient motors. They have jointly recommended important changes and additions to the current national energy-efficiency standards for industrial electric motors to Congressional energy committees for their consideration in legislation now under development.

The organizations recommend that changes affecting three different types of electric motors take effect 36 months from enactment. The motors are 1- to 200-hp general purpose, poly-phase integral-horsepower induction motors; seven types of low voltage poly-phase, integral-horsepower induction motors not currently covered under federal law; and NEMA design “B” 201- to 500-hp general purpose motors

NEMA and ACEEE will also request tax incentives for motor manufacturers and end-use purchasers to accelerate the production and installation of premium efficiency electric motors during the 36 months prior to the effective date of the new motor standards.

These proposed standards will raise the efficiency of industrial motors in coming years to the highest levels of any country in the world. Because they can operate for more than 20 years, accelerating the production and installation of more NEMA Premium efficiency level motors will result in significant long-term savings.

ACEEE projects that the net cumulative energy savings attributable to this proposal will be 8 billion kilowatt hours through 2030; the net economic savings for consumers will be $500 million. Both NEMA and ACEEE see this proposal as a great opportunity to help the country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.