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NICE3 Program Awards $2.1 Million

March 19, 1999
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The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the award of more than $2.1 million in grants to six U.S. manufacturers to help demonstrate and commercialize energy-efficient and environmentally friendly industrial technologies. The grants support technologies being developed for use in the chemicals, metalcasting, aluminum, forest products, and steel industries.

The awards are part of the National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3) program, a strategic partnership between state energy, economic development and environmental departments, industry and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Since 1991, the department has funded 91 projects, including this year's recipients. The program includes more than 200 partners in 32 states and territories. NICE3 has leveraged $81.8 million in state and industry funds with $26.3 million in federal funds. According to DOE, more than half of the recipients have been small businesses.

Companies and their state partners for 1999 are:

  • MBA Polymers Inc., Richmond, Calif., with the California Energy Commission
  • North American Die Casting Association, Rosemont, Ill. with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
  • Alcoa, Warrick Ind. with the Indiana Department of Commerce, Energy Policy Division
  • Industrial Microwave Systems Inc., Research Triangle Park, N.C., with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resource
  • Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Allentown, Pa., with the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency for a demonstration project being done in Ohio
  • Weirton Steel Corporation, Weirton, W. Va. with the West Virginia Energy Efficiency Program

Additional information about the six projects is available at the Department of Energy web site: www.oit.doe.gov/news/3_12_99.shtml