ROSSLYN, Va., June 14, 2001 — The National Electrical Manufacturers Association today launched a national Premium Efficient Electric Motor program, known and marketed as "NEMA Premium™." NEMA members represent over 80 percent of U.S. production and sales of electric motors.
Over 1.2 million integral electric motors are sold each year. These motors power the U.S. economy via motor-driven systems used in a wide range of industries, including chemicals, mining, forest products, oil and gas, utility, irrigation, general manufacturing, commercial pumps and fans, and compressors.
Using Department of Energy data, it is estimated that the NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program could save over 5,800 gigawatts of electricity and prevent the release of nearly 80 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere over the next 10 years. That would be the equivalent of keeping 16 million cars off the road.
Earlier this year, the U.S. electric motor industry reached consensus on a specification defining premium efficient motors and have agreed to include the definition in NEMA industry electric motor performance and application standards.
This action was based, in part, on power supply and utility deregulation issues that have brought attention to the need to assist industrial motor users and utilities to optimize motor systems efficiency. Many users and motor repair shops have been confused over the lack of consistency in terms describing integral motor "premium efficiency" performance by third parties and manufacturers. By directly relating motor efficiency to systems application needs, the NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program manufacturers expect market and user confusion to be greatly reduced.
Demand for NEMA Premium™ efficiency motors will exceed demand for the current "energy efficient" product required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The Energy Policy Act imposed minimum energy efficient standards on certain 1- 200 horsepower (HP) general purpose integral horsepower motors based on NEMA standards.
The NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program covers many more motor types and sizes than those covered under the 1992 federally-regulated motor program, including 1-200 HP definite and special purpose motors, motors up to 500 HP, and medium voltage motors.
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) has endorsed NEMA Premium™ by aligning its specifications for premium-efficiency motors with NEMA's. Over 25 CEE members, including electric utilities, state and regional energy- efficiency programs and state energy offices use CEE's specifications as the basis for their motor efficiency programs. These members spend over $5.5 million every year to promote premium-efficiency motors through education, technical assistance, and rebates.
NEMA Premium™ provides CEE members, such as Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and the New York Power Authority with a credible brand to help boost participation in their programs, while helping NEMA to connect with CEE motor programs that have been in place since 1996. NEMA Premium™ will also play a prominent role in a new national awareness campaign that NEMA and CEE are sponsoring along with other industry stakeholders called Motor Decisions Matter(SM).
Both NEMA and CEE believe NEMA Premium™ efficiency motors will be specified by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and by utility motor programs as replacements for older, failed motors because of an accompanying reduction in electrical energy consumption and improved reliability.
Praising the program, NEMA President Malcolm O'Hagan said, "A NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor should be a welcome addition to the marketplace, setting a clear, market-driven, voluntary, high energy efficiency specification for the industry, one that will be good for consumers, manufacturers, and the environment. We call upon all interested parties to endorse and support this national initiative." O'Hagan also noted that the NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program fits well into Republican and Democratic energy proposals, providing solutions designed to reduce energy consumption.
NEMA members are in the energy efficiency business and provide the most innovative and efficient motor products possible, according to Dale Basso, product manager of medium AC motors at Rockwell Automation. "NEMA motor members have the energy solutions to address utility and industrial user needs. We have elected to broaden the NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program to include motors outside the range now regulated by the federal government in order to better serve the customer in a comprehensive manner."
The NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program is based on products available and sold today and that operate with present day motor support equipment. "It is in the best interests of motor users to specify NEMA Premium™, thus maximizing efficiency, reducing electrical consumption costs, and improving motor system reliability and performance," according to Rob Boteler, director of marketing at Emerson Motors.
Initial charter motor manufacturers participating in the NEMA Premium™ efficiency motor program include Emerson Motors, Toshiba International, Rockwell Automation, GE Motors, Regal Beloit Corporation, Siemens Energy and Automation, WEG Electric, SEW-Eurodrive, Sterling Electric, and A.O. Smith Electrical Products Company.
NEMA, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is the leading trade association in the United States representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., its 500 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end-use of electricity. Annual shipments of these products total $100 billion.
SOURCE: National Electrical Manufacturers Association
