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 Innovationconference. Representatives from five industriesorest products, mining, petroleum refining, agriculture and aluminumarticipated 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. Theye also promoting Best Practice training opportunities, tools and techniques. For example, theyl 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