NASEO, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Office, is working with State Energy Offices to identify, develop, and enhance resources to help manufacturing industries meet their goals and state objectives for economic development and competitiveness, environmental protection, and energy reliability, resilience, and security.

This work includes both (1) helping existing industrial facilities through technical and business assistance; and (2) accelerating development and deployment of new technologies and industries. The scope includes manufacturing and related industrial activities (e.g., mining, water and wastewater treatment) broadly as well as manufacture of clean energy products (such as PVs, EVs, batteries, electrolyzers, carbon capture and utilization, high-efficiency products, controls, and clean fuels)

NASEO operates a State Industrial Working Group with interested states to advance these goals and engages with relevant programs and resources across agencies, organizations, and industries.

Please contact industry@naseo.org or Rodney Sobin (rsobin@naseo.org) or Sam Cramer (scramer@naseo.org) with any questions about this initiative and to join the Working Group.

Staff Contacts

Sam Cramer Sam Cramer Senior Program Director

Sam Cramer

Senior Program Director

Sam Cramer leads NASEO's financing program and state energy planning assistance and supports the electricity planning initiative. In his role, Mr. Cramer has conducted research on a range of issues such as energy-water nexus and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy. Prior to NASEO, Mr. Cramer worked for the National Governors Association, where he assisted governors' offices with understanding energy topics including new utility business models and electricity market structures, shale oil and gas protective practices, and greenhouse gas emissions rules. Mr. Cramer received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and his Master of Public Policy from American University.

Rodney Sobin Rodney Sobin Senior Fellow

Rodney Sobin

Senior Fellow

Rodney Sobin leads NASEO's work on demand flexibility and building-grid integration as well as industrial energy; supports a range of building energy management and energy-environmental integration activities; has led reports on critical minerals, hydrogen, and carbon management; and works on such issues as technological innovation and distributed energy resources. Prior to NASEO, he was Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the Alliance to Save Energy; worked at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; and did environmental technology work at Concurrent Technologies Corporation, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and the World Resources Institute. He has a Bachelor of Science in biology and society from Cornell University and two master’s degrees, a Master of Arts in technology and human affairs and Master of Science in biological sciences from Washington University in St. Louis.

Coming Soon

Renewable Thermal Collaborative RTC Summit 2025

October 15-17, 2025 – Washington, DC

ACEEE 2025 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry

July 16-18, 2025 – Charlotte, NC

NASEO State Industrial Working Group Webinar: Impacting Operational Performance and Energy Productivity Through Smart Manufacturing
April 28, 2025
  • Founded in 2016, CESMII is a Manufacturing USA institute funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Institute is accelerating Smart Manufacturing adoption through the integration of advanced sensors, data, platforms, and controls to radically impact manufacturing performance, through measurable improvements in areas such as quality, throughput, costs/profitability, safety, asset reliability and energy productivity. Housed at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), CESMII is partnered with multiple Smart Manufacturing Innovation Centers across the nation and numerous member manufacturers, universities, technical assistance providers, and others working to advance smart manufacturing. Learn about CESMII, examples of its work with manufacturers, and how its network can help manufacturers in your state.
    • Webinar presentation slides are here and recording here.
NASEO State Industrial Working Group Webinar: Assisting Manufacturing – Focus on Pennsylvania
January 27, 2025
  • Pennsylvania hosts a rich industrial technical assistance ecosystem with a mix of state, federal, nonprofit, independent, and university organizations and partnerships. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Energy Programs Office (i.e., the State Energy Office) and Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) presented on their technical assistance programs and cross-program collaborations, including PennTAP services, upcoming DEP industrial assessments, and the new Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) program.
    • Webinar presentation slides are here and recording here.
Industrial Heat Pump (IHP) Alliance Webinar: Industrial Heat Pump Economics in the United States
January 16, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
  • The Industrial Heat Pump Alliance will hold a webinar exploring industrial heat pump (IHP) economics in the United States featuring speakers the Policy Analysis at the Center for Applied Environmental Law and Policy (CAELP), Cascade Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) discussing industrial heat decarbonation economic and policies; IHP market experiences, end-user decision making, and early opportunities; and IHP demonstration opportunities and economics in the food and beverage sector. Click here to register.
NASEO Industrial Working Groups Forum: Industrial Heat Electrification and Storage
August 28, 2024
  • Industrial heating, which now often relies on onsite fuel combustion, is a major challenge to decarbonizing industrial processes. Arun Gupta, Founder and CEO of Skyven Technologies discussed steam-generating heat pump implementation for industrial customers (presentation). Caroline Jo, Vice President of Project Finance and Government Affairs at Rondo Energy presented on the Rondo Heat Battery that can provide 24/7 industrial heat while supporting load management and grid reliability (presentation). The speakers included discussion of business and financing models, including energy-, heat-, and storage-as-a-service business approaches. Recording available here.
NASEO-NARUC Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) and NASEO Industrial Working Groups Joint Forum: Industrial Demand Flexibility
June 11, 2024
Lab Showcase: Meet the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing
May 28, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
  • This office serves as the headquarters for the interagency Advanced National Manufacturing Program office to coordinate Manufacturing USA, a network of manufacturing innovation institutes across the U.S. that brings together industry, academia and the public sector to advance American manufacturing.
NASEO Industrial Working Group Forum: State and Local Pollution Prevention Programs (P2) and Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAP)
February 21, 2024
  • This Forum focused on P2 and environmental assistance programs that offer technical assistance to manufacturing and other enterprises. Ed Gonzalez and Ken Grimm (presentation) of the Pollution Prevention Resource Center discussed technical assistance programs and partnerships offered in the Pacific Northwest as well as the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Matt Taylor (presentation) and Donovan Grimwood (presentation) of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) offered a focus on their state’s P2 and small business environmental technical assistance programs, respectively, with Donovan also highlighting the National SBEAP. (Recording pending.)
NASEO Annual Meeting 2023: American Manufacturing Renaissance – Productive, Prosperous, and Increasingly Clean
October 18, 2023 – Portland, OR
NASEO Industrial/Manufacturing Working Group Forum: (1) Implementation Grants for Industrial Research and Assessment Centers, (2) Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credits, and (3) Focus on Michigan
September 13, 2023
  • This Forum featured DOE presentations on (1) implementation grants available to help small and medium sized manufacturers implement recommendations from Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs), CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships, and equivalent assessments (presentation) and (2) the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit and 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (presentation link pending) . There was also a focus on Michigan, with State Energy Office remarks and presentations from the Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University on the RESTART technical assistance program (presentation) and the Industrial Decarbonization Innovation Challenge (presentation).
NASEO Industrial/Manufacturing Working Group Forum: NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership and EPA ENERGY STAR    Program for Industry
July 12, 2023
  • This Forum featured presentations on technical assistance, tools, and resources to help American industry offered through EPA's ENERGY STAR industrial program and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP). ENERGY STAR helps U.S. industry to enhance energy management through partnerships, tools, and other resources. MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico serving small- and medium sized manufacturers. The Forum included state discussion and exchange. Presentation slides are here.
NASEO Webinar: Renewable Thermal Vision and Industrial Electrification in U.S. States
June 14, 2023
  • The Renewable Thermal Collaborative, a global coalition for companies, institutions, and governments committed to scaling up renewable heating and cooling and cutting carbon emissions at industrial facilities, partners discussed its Renewable Thermal Vision and Industrial Electrification in U.S. States reports as well as associated policy and technical tools available to help states and industries advance industrial electrification. The presentation slides can be found here, recording is pending.
NASEO Industrial/Manufacturing Working Group Forum: Industrial Assessment Centers and Complimentary TA Programs
May 3, 2023
  • U.S. DOE presented on the DOE-supported Industrial Assessment Centers, including its services and planned program enhancements and expansion. The Forum also included discussion of complementary technical assistance programs (CHP/Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships, DOE Better Plants) as well as perspective from the University of Utah-based Intermountain IAC on IAC-State Energy Office collaboration. Discussion of state support for industrial energy assessments occurred during state exchange portion of the program.
  • Slides here and recording here.
NASEO Industrial/Manufacturing Working Group Forum: DOE Advanced Energy Manufacturing Grants and Industrial Demonstrations Programs and Connecticut Focus
March 1, 2023
  • This inaugural Forum of the NASEO Industrial/Manufacturing Working Group focused on opportunities under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Clean Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program and Industrial Demonstrations Program. Representatives from DOE Offices of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain (MESC) and Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) discussed these and related programs. There was also a presentation from Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer and State Energy Office on that state’s approach to enhancing manufacturing and energy management, followed by Working Group state exchange on industrial/manufacturing topics.
  • Presentation here and recording here.
  • This report provides an overview of the importance of manufacturing and relevant State and Territory Energy Office interests, a summary of various programs and resources for industrial and manufacturing technical assistance, and a few highlighted cases of states that are advancing manufacturing energy and environmental management.

NASEO, Response to DOE Request for Information on Transforming Industry – Strategies for Decarbonization (June 2024)

  • This is the third round of funding under the State Manufacturing Leadership Program (SMLP) for states and state-funded universities and technical and community colleges to enhance SMM smart manufacturing and access to high-performance computing. The funding will support SMM access to smart manufacturing technical assistance, training, facility assessments, apprenticeships, and direct financial assistance. Awardees can receive technical assistance from CESMII, the Smart Manufacturing Institute, and be connected to a diverse coalition of public and private TA providers, such as the Manufacturing USA institutes, the National Laboratories, NIST MEP, ITACs, and institutions of higher education. Read the full funding opportunity here. 
  • DOE has modified the application deadline and selection process for this program to be compliant with Executive Orders. An updated timeline will be provided when available.
  • The teams—led by the Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Regents of the University of Michigan, and the Trustees of the University of Illinois—will help create and refine a Small Supplier EV Transition Playbook, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, to help internal combustion engine suppliers navigate the transition of their business model to EV or adjacent markets.

Industrial Technologies Funding and Technical Assistance Compendium

  • This vision study will identify and explore each of these pathways and how they can be pursued together to chart a course to an industrial transformation.
  • Supports innovation in technologies and the adoption of practices to enable the industrial sector to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Researches, develops, and demonstrates next-generation materials and manufacturing technologies needed to increase U.S. industrial competitiveness and to drive economy-wide decarbonization. AMMTO supports the national plan to revitalize American manufacturing, secure critical supply chains, and develop diverse innovation ecosystems leading to new manufacturing jobs and increased economic strength of the nation.
  • Responsible for strengthening and securing manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure and support a clean and equitable energy transition.
  • Established as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate clean energy technologies from the lab to market and fill a critical innovation gap on the path to achieving our nation’s climate goals of net zero emissions by 2050. Its mission is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private sector to accelerate deployment, market adoption, and the equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system.

Loan Program Office

DOE Technical Assistance, Tools, and Resources
  • Industrial Assessment Centers
    • Small- and medium-sized manufacturers may be eligible to receive a no-cost assessment provided by DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). Teams located at 37 universities around the country conduct energy assessments to identify opportunities to improve productivity and competitiveness, reduce waste, and save energy. A database of recommendations from past plant assessments is available. New Regional Centers of Excellence and 17 Industrial Training and Assessment Centers at community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs enhance IAC workforce training capabilities. Contact the closest IAC location about receiving IAC services.
  • Better Plants works with leading U.S. manufacturers and wastewater treatment agencies to set ambitious energy, water, waste, and carbon reduction goals and commit to reducing energy intensity by 25% over a 10-year period across all U.S. operations. By partnering with industry, the Better Plants program aims to help leading manufacturers boost efficiency, increase resilience, strengthen economic competitiveness, and reduce their carbon footprint through improvements in energy efficiency.
  • Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs)
    • Operates across 10 multi-state regions (that include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands). They bring specialized, regional knowledge to advise on economic, environmental, regulatory, and other issues impacting the adoption of onsite clean energy technologies. The Onsite Energy TAPs have expertise to advise on a variety of distributed energy technologies suitable for the industrial sector and are backed by world-class support from DOE’s national laboratories.
  • Energy Management Programs
    • Including 50001 Ready program the recognizes facilities and organizations that attest to the implementation of an ISO 50001-based energy management system. The program is a self-paced, no-cost way for organizations to build a culture of structured energy improvement that leads to deeper and sustained savings that does not require any external audits or certifications.
  • Software tools for energy and water management, systems and equipment management, and decarbonization.
  • DOE Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap
  • DOE Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Industrial Decarbonization (and June 28, 2023, interim webinar presentation slides and recording), page also links to Decarbonizing Chemicals & Refining and Low-Carbon Cement sector reports. Also of interest, Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Clean Hydrogen and Carbon Management reports.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR Program for Industry - Industrial Energy Management Programs, Tools, and Guides
  • ENERGY STAR Industrial Assistance Network
    • Small and medium-sized manufacturers can access local energy management support to access tools and expertise, earn ENERGY STAR recognition, and receive training and lessons from experienced industrial energy managers.
  • EPA recognizes 103 U.S. manufacturing plants that earned ENERGY STAR certification in 2023.
  • Under the purview of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), MEP is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. Last year, MEP Centers interacted with 34,307 manufacturers, leading to $14.4 billion in sales, $1.5 billion in cost savings, $5.2 billion in new client investments, and helped create or retain 125,746 jobs.
  • Most states host a Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) to assist small businesses with environmental compliance and emission reduction. The website contains resources for both small businesses and the SBEAPs that serve them.
  • Hosted by U.S. EPA 
  • Provides links to regional, state, and local pollution prevention technical assistance resources; these include public agencies, universities, Small Business Development Centers, MEPs, non-governmental organization, and other programs and resources.
  • Delivers professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs. SBDCs provide problem-solving assistance to help small businesses access capital, develop and exchange new technologies, and improve business planning, strategy, operations, financial management, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales and other areas required for small business growth and expansion, management improvement, increased productivity and innovation.
  • This report digs into industrial measures in 26 state plans and offering findings on key trends and gaps, as well as more than a dozen suggestions for states to build on their efforts, such as for CPRG-related plans. 
  • N. Esram, A. Johnson, and N. Elliott
  • This policy brief recommends actions that policymakers, utilities, and utility regulators can take to catalyze electrification of process heating while supporting the growth of U.S. manufacturing and strengthening the grid. (Blog.)
  • This roadmap was prepared by Strategen for the Ohio River Valley Institute to offer industrial decarbonization pathways through 2050 for all industrial subsectors in Pennsylvania, including fossil fuel extraction and delivery, iron and steel, minerals (e.g., cement, lime), chemicals, and refining, among others. The roadmap explores the role of five major decarbonization levers: energy efficiency, material efficiency, electrification, fuel switching, and carbon capture and storage.
  • Johnson, A., A. Fraser, and D. York
  • This white paper calls on industry, utilities, and states to prepare for increasing loads by investing in strategies and technologies that enable demand flexibility, the ability of industrial facilities to adjust their energy consumption in response to grid conditions. 
  • A resource for states officials, businesses, communities, advocates, and others to understand how IIJA and IRA funding can be used for holistic advancement of industrial technology innovation and decarbonization. 
  • The trade association for the waste heat to power (WHP) industry that uses waste heat from industrial processes to generate electricity with no additional fuel, no combustion, and no incremental emissions.
  • An initiative of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) to assist stakeholders interested in implementing IHPs by offering guidance, resources, and support.
  • Convened by the Great Plains Institute and World Resources Institute in collaboration with various companies and NGOs aims to advance solutions key to decarbonizing the industrial sector through policy development and implementation; technology demonstration and adoption; and demand-side market development at state, regional, and federal levels. i3 offers various resources and hosts convenings.

State Best Practices Guide for Decarbonizing Industry

The Landscape of Clean Hydrogen: An Outlook for Industrial Hubs in the United States