E3 Texas

After launching in San Antonio in 2009, E3 Texas continued to expand with 23 facilities participating statewide in 2011. The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) estimates that within two years, these facilities could recover the capital costs associated with implementing improvements.

The identified opportunities could result in the following:

• Annual energy savings of 10,902,544 kWh.
• Annual CO2 reduction of 6,577 metric tons or equivalent to 1,195 cars removed from the road.
• Water savings of 369,885 gallons.
• Solid waste reductions of 548.5 tons.
• Annual cost savings of $3,028,290.
• Training of 165 people.

Funding

CPS Energy, the local utility, pays 50 percent of each E3 assessment cost up front, from funds allocated for energy efficiency projects. The participating company is responsible for the remainder of the cost.

After the assessment is complete, CPS Energy selects specific efficiency improvements recommendations that it would like the company to implement. If the company implements these projects, the utility will then reimburse it for its 50 percent contribution—resulting in no net cost for the assessment. Furthermore, the company is eligible for any incentives or rebates that may be associated with specific implementations.

U.S. EPA Region 6 also awarded a pollution prevention grant of $150,000 to support E3 assessments, seven of which are already complete. The savings identified above include those results.