Dive Brief:

• The Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed a new energy efficiency rule for electric motors that has been endorsed by efficiency advocates and manufacturers alike.
• The rule could save consumers up to $23 billion and cut emissions of carbon dioxide from electric motors by roughly 400 million metric tons over a 30-year span, DOE said.
• Motors covered by the new rule include those in the 1- to 500-horsepower range that operate fans, pumps in elevators, conveyor belts, driving compressors and furnace fans. These motors account for nearly half of the nation's industrial electricity use.

Dive Insight:

In such a rare show of unanimity, industry and advocates agree. Perhaps this can set a precedent for four other pending efficiency rules for commercial refrigeration units, walk-in coolers and freezers, lamp fixtures and furnace fans.  "When you have advocates and manufacturers agreeing on efficiency standards for 50% of the U.S.’s industrial electricity use, that’s a big deal!" the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a blog post.