Energy Efficiency Seminar Targets Rate Cap Expiration
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will host an energy seminar to help manufacturing companies prepare for Pennsylvania’s electricity rate increases, set to take effect on January 1, 2011, when rate caps on electricity expire.
“Energy Efficiency for Plastics Molders” will be held on Thursday, September 17, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the Samuel P. “Pat” Black III Conference Center, located on the first floor of the college’s Research and Economic Development Center. The seminar includes a half-day filled with nine presentation topics and two networking sessions followed by dinner and a panel discussion in the evening.
“This seminar will help manufacturing companies prepare for this change and remain competitive,” said Jay Schenck, senior technical specialist for the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP). “While the seminar targets plastics companies, the information provided would benefit any manufacturing business or industry.”
Pete Roberts, director of the Energy Management Institute (EMI), will serve as the key presenter and facilitator. EMI is part of the Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC), which helps businesses and manufacturers increase productivity, improve energy efficiency, and achieve and maintain environmental compliance. Roberts has more than 35 years of experience in HVAC, industrial processes, and applied research and development. He earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Villanova University and a bachelor’s in physics from Penn State University Park.
In addition to highlighting rate cap expiration awareness and pending changes, presenters will discuss strategies for companies to reduce electricity costs, energy management, how to conduct a facilities audit, developing an aggregate group for negotiating utility rates, plus state energy grants and funding support. Penn State Behrend faculty and staff will conduct demonstrations in the college’s plastics processing lab on equipment designed to increase efficiency.
The seminar will end with a panel discussion involving Roberts and Schenck plus JR Nordstrom, environmental management assistance program consultant for the Gannon University Small Business Development Center, and Erich Landis, a partner at NorthEast Energy Advisors in Pittsburgh.
Continuing Education and the School of Engineering at Penn State Behrend along with the Plastics Technology Center, Beaumont Technologies, the NWIRC, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the Society of Plastics Engineers are helping to support this event as well.
For more information or to register, call Penn State Behrend Continuing Education at 814-898-6103 or click here. Interested participants can elect to attend the full seminar for $35, or the dinner and panel discussion only for $20.