Industries of the Future-West Virginia will mark five years of helping state manufacturers become more energy efficient and productive during its annual symposium Dec. 5-6 at the Charleston Town Center Marriott.

Gov. Bob Wise will headline a list of government, academic and industry leaders celebrating the programs anniversary. Other dignitaries will include state Sens. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, and Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha; West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty Jr.; West Virginia Development Office Executive Director David Satterfield; and U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman.

“This years symposium is special because it was five years ago that we launched the first state Industries of the Future program in the nation,”said Carl Irwin, director.”Since then, several state industries have revamped their means of production, leading to more energy-saving operations that are both friendly to the bottom line and the environment.”

A highlight of the symposium will be the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state and the DOE s Office of Industrial Technologies. The agreement, to be signed at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6, will note West Virginias pioneering role in the state IOF concept and commit the state and DOE to expanded roles in the program.

Prior to the document signing, Wise, McCabe, Sprouse, Hardesty and Garman will make brief remarks at a 12:15 p.m. luncheon.

Other activities will include progress reports from various industry representatives, a panel discussion on energy and short courses on various topics of interest to industry.

Industries of the Future-West Virginia is a state version of a national program developed through the DOE . Its role is to promote projects, partnerships and programs that increase energy efficiency, reduce and use waste materials, and improve productivity in energy-intensive industries.

The state program is a partnership involving WVU , OIT , the West Virginia Development Office and state industry groups. Eight state industries participate in the program: aluminum, steel, metal casting, glass, forest/wood products, chemicals/polymers, mining and cross-cut industries.

Twenty-five other states have followed West Virginias lead and established IOF programs.

For more information about the symposium, visit the IOF -WV web site at http://www.nrcce.wvu.edu/iof/ .