OIT Times: Washington Signs MOU, Technology Exhibition Coming
September 22, 2001
Washington held its state IOF kick-off event last September with a ompetitiveness Through Innovationconference. Representatives from five industriesorest products, mining, petroleum refining, agriculture and aluminumarticipated in breakout sessions to help prioritize local technology needs.
ey to us was getting the word out about OIT numerous R&D funding support programs so we could form partnerships to submit proposals,said John Ryan of the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program that manages the Washington IOF effort. Several forest products-related R&D proposals, he notes, have already been submitted.
The September event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by representatives from the Governor Office, local industry and trade associations, and OIT Denise Swink.
Since September the state effort has expanded. he threat of power shortages has been of major concern on the west coast so, while our industries are still very interested in longer term R&D, they are especially interested in short term energy management Best Practices,said Ryan.
To meet this need, Washington state IOF is letting firms know about OIT cost-shared plantwide assessments. Theye also promoting Best Practice training opportunities, tools and techniques. For example, theyl sponsor ASD training session at the TAPPI (a forest products trade group) convention in Seattle on November 7th.
Washington State IOF is also planning a Technology Exhibition in April 3, 2002 at Weyerhaeuser Technology Center. Best Practice training and tools and energy saving technologies of interest to forest products and other industries in the state will be featured.
For more information, visit www.energy.wsu.edu