WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that, beginning today, a three-day industrial Energy Saving Assessment is taking place at the Valero Paulsboro Refinery facility in Paulsboro, New Jersey, as part of the comprehensive national energy efficiency effort undertaken by the Bush administration.  Through no-cost assessments, DOE is working with major manufacturing facilities to identify energy- and money-saving opportunities, primarily by focusing on steam and process heating systems.

 

“President Bush has called on all Americans to be more energy efficient.  Private industry is joining the federal government in taking a lead role in this effort,” Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said.  “DOE’s Energy Saving Teams will play a key role in assessing and recommending energy efficiency strategies for some of the largest industrial facilities across the nation.”

 

The Valero Paulsboro Refinery produces a wide range of petroleum products including gasoline, diesel fuel, home-heating oil, jet fuel and asphalt.  Its total refining capacity is approximately 184,000 barrels per day.  The refinery’s products are delivered throughout the northeastern U.S. via pipeline, barge, tanker, rail and truck. 

 

DOE’s Energy Saving Teams have completed visits to 28 large federal facilities and are in the process of visiting 200 of the most energy-intensive manufacturing facilities in the United States as part of the national “Easy Ways to Save Energy” campaign launched by Secretary Bodman on October 3, 2005. 

 

The first nine Energy Saving Assessments have identified, in aggregate, $28 million per year in energy cost savings and will reduce natural gas consumption by more than 3 trillion Btu per year, equivalent to the natural gas consumed by more than 40,000 typical U.S. homes.

 

Companies interested in accessing DOE energy saving resources can get more details at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/saveenergynow/ and request brochures detailing “15 Tips to Help Your Plant Save Energy.” 

 

For tips on easy, inexpensive steps consumers can take to lower their energy bills this winter, please visit  http://www.energysavers.gov/ or call DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Hotline at 1-877-337-3463.