Can you provide with a background on what ITACs are, who manages it, are there any requirements to participate?
The Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITACs) program is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative that provides no-cost assessments to help small and medium-sized manufacturers improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity. The program began in 1976 under the name Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Centers (EADC) and later became Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) in 1995 and then ITAC in 2024. Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Energy Systems (CAES) manages the ITAC program. To qualify for an assessment, any plant with fewer than 500 employees, less than $250 million in annual sales, and energy bills between $100,000 and $3.5 million may qualify however there are some exception on case-by-case basis.
That’s great to hear that this program is running for such a long time. Can you tell me how long does the assessment process take?
Sure. After collecting some initial data and scheduling a site visit which lasts one day, the detailed report is delivered within 60 days, and a follow-up call after 6 to 9 months to understand the implementation of the recommendations.