The new money funds the Kentucky Industrial and Commercial Sustainability Program and comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the U.S. Department of Energy. KPPC will administer the program through a partnership with the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence.
UofL President James Ramsey, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and KPPC representatives made the announcement Feb. 17 at Louisville-based Fetter Group.
This is the beginning of what is going to have an impact on helping the governor meet a very aggressive seven-point plan (to reduce energy consumption by 2025), Ramsey said.
Fetter, a printing company, is one of more than 500 companies KPPC already has helped by providing an on-site assessment and making energy-savings recommendations. Since starting to work with KPPC in 2007, the company has reduced its total energy usage by 32 percent, according to Terry Gill, president and chief executive officer of Fetter Group.
It makes good business sense, good energy sense and, in the long run, good environmental sense, said Peters, calling Fetter a good example of how to make energy efficiency strides. It is a perfect example and a perfect model of what we can use in the future.
The expanded program will allow KPPC to reach out to more companies and clients and to support those that already have begun to adopt more sustainable practices, said KPPC Executive Director Cam Metcalf.
KPPC energy engineers and technicians will work with businesses to identify and help implement measures that boost energy efficiency. Those services include training in utility bill analysis, energy procurement and development of energy management plans.
The goal is for companies to develop programs that cut energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kentucky Industrial and Commercial Sustainability Program is designed to help meet the goals of Gov. Steve Beshear’s energy plan to reduce state energy consumption by 18 percent by 2025. The new funding is to extend through April 2012.
KPPC is part of UofL’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering. It provides free, confidential and nonregulatory technical information and assistance. Industrial representatives can find out more about April and June workshops on the program by calling Metcalf at 502-852-0965, by e-mail or online.
