West Virginia companies can learn how becoming more energy efficient can pay big dividends – just like Steel of West Virginia proved when it achieved energy cost savings of more than $2 million per year – at the 11th annual Industries of the Future-WV Day at the Capitol in Charleston set for Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Steel of West Virginia, a Huntington-based producer of structural beams, channels and special shape steel sections, achieved significant energy efficiency and cost savings through a decade-long partnership with West Virginia University’s Industries of the Future-West Virginia program. The company will receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Industrial Energy Efficiency at the 11th annual IOF-WV Day.

The festivities offer representatives of Mountain State industrial companies the opportunity to discover first-hand how others around the state are becoming more efficient by taking advantage of the services and support available to help save energy and money, Carl Irwin, IOF-WV co-director said.

IOF-WV works with West Virginia manufacturing and business communities to increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and improve productivity in energy-intensive industries through partnerships involving West Virginia businesses, WVU researchers, and national laboratories.

From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, exhibitors from approximately 25 manufacturing and technology companies, academia, government agencies and industry organizations will be stationed throughout the Capitol building.

A luncheon at the Governor’s mansion tent will begin at noon when Keith Burdette, secretary of the Department of Commerce, will present the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Industrial Energy Efficiency to Steel of West Virginia.

The event is open to the public, but registration for the luncheon is required. Exhibit space is free of charge and still available. To register, contact Angela Shock at (304) 293-2867 ext. 5434 or Angela.Shock@mail.wvu.edu.

“In addition, the day provides a chance for companies to make appointments with state officials like legislators, representatives from the Division of Energy, the Division of Environmental Protection, the Department of Labor and others to talk about efficiency issues,” Irwin said. “As in years’ past, we will also take our message to the Senate Economic Development Committee as part of the day’s events.”

IOF-WV, part of WVU’s Advanced Energy Initiative, is a joint program of the West Virginia Division of Energy, the West Virginia Development Office, and WVU’s National Research Center for Coal and Energy.

For more information, visit http://iofwv.nrcce.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

kc-tkw/01/13/11

CONTACT: Kathleen Cullen, WVU NRCCE
304-293-2867 ext. 5426; kathleen.cullen@mail.wvu.edu

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