My Take: Out With The Old, In With The New

It’s a done deal. A new year is upon us and so are new energy rules. Or had you forgotten? It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If you’re like me, you’re finding it harder and harder to keep up-to-date on everything you need to know.

For example, in the flurry of end-of-year activities last month, you may have overlooked a particularly important event: On December 19, 2010, the Energy Independence and Security Act (“EISA”) that was signed into law back in 2007 quietly became a very important part of your life. If you’re an industrial motor user and you didn’t take note of that fact, you should—with an emphasis on getting up to speed quickly and being able to comply with the new law.

In simple language, EISA expands the previously mandated energy-efficiency standards from the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) for a wider range of industrial motors manufactured for sale in the United States. Specifically, EISA calls for the following:

• A broad range of general-purpose motors must now meet higher energy-efficiency standards.
• EPAct motors must now upgrade to NEMA Premium Efficiency standards.
• Many previously exempt motors must now upgrade to EPAct standards.

Whoa! While you’ve had several years to prepare (or steel) yourself for these stiffer regs, you might still require significant assistance on the road to full compliance. Not to worry. The Motor Specialist Website (www.TheMotorSpecialist.com) may be one of the best sources you can consult to get the job done.

What operation wouldn’t want its very own eminently qualified, expert motor specialist working on its behalf 24/7/365—and at no charge? Now, you have one…right at your fingertips…wherever and whenever you need it. Designed to help you cut through the confusion and find the answers to all your EISA questions, this new Website is powered by the MRO giant Motion Industries, working in partnership with Baldor Electric Company and US Motors. It’s fully stocked with all the information, tools and support your organization could possibly need to make the transition from the old days to the bright new EISA reality in which we now find ourselves.

Although no one will hold it against you if you forgot to toast the dawning of EISA in your New Year celebrations, you can’t afford to forget www.TheMotorSpecialist.com in 2011. I suggest that you make it one of your “go-to” sites this year—visit it early and often.

In the meantime, Happy New Year to all! Thank you so much for your support over the past 23 years. I’ll say it again—and I really like saying it, too—we couldn’t have done it without you! MT

jalexander@atpnetwork.com