2004

Release: Immediate
Contact: Jean Donovan, NYSERDA, (518) 862-1090, ext. 3516

New York Energy $mart^SM Premium-Efficiency Motors Program Marks a Milestone
More than 10,000 NEMA PremiumT Motors Sold Through Program

Albany, November 29 - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced that 10,000 motors have now been sold through its New York Energy $mart^SM Premium-Efficiency Motors Program. The sale of this number of NEMA PremiumT motors represents annual savings of 9,010,488 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy for New York State.

The National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA) is a voluntary group of electrical manufacturers that are recognized as North America's authority on motors. It sponsors the use of premium efficient electric motors that carry the NEMA PremiumT label as a way to reduce energy consumption.

NYSERDA President Peter R. Smith said, "We're proud to work with NEMA through the Premium-Efficiency Motors Program. This partnership provides invaluable environmental benefits for all New Yorkers, and helps reduce the strain on the State's electrical infrastructure. The sale of 10,000 of these motors is a great milestone in NYSERDA's efforts to build sustainable market demand for NEMA PremiumT motors."

Electric motors have an array of commercial and industrial uses. They power printing presses, pumps, conveyer belts, HVAC systems, and food processing equipment. Motors account for about 23 percent of all U.S. energy use and two-thirds of all industrial energy use. Improving the efficiency of these motors not only saves energy, but also reduces facility operating and production costs, and improves productivity.

NYSERDA's Premium-Efficiency Motors Program offers training and sales assistance, as well as financial incentives, to wholesale distributors, vendors, and dealers of electric motors for the sale of NEMA PremiumT motors, which are up to four percent more efficient than motors meeting the federal efficiency standard set by the Energy Policy Act. Because many motors operate 80 or more hours per week, even small increases in efficiency can yield huge energy savings.

Participation in the program has increased substantially since its inception - 98 percent of motor vendors in New York State are participants. The energy saved by the utilization of NEMA PremiumT motors is enough to power the average home for more than 800 years. For State businesses, the program saves enough energy annually to run 146 average-sized commercial accounts or four average-sized industrial accounts for one year. The program also prevents the burning of up to 5,300 barrels of oil annually (a savings of more than $291,000 at today's prices) or 1,898 tons of coal.

NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation established by law in 1975. It identifies and promotes solutions to New York State's energy challenges in ways that achieve energy efficiency while benefitting the State's economy and environment. It administers the New York Energy $mart^SM program that benefits all ratepayers of the investor-owned electric companies across the State. For more information, visit www.nyserda.org.

###