Commits to 10% increase in sector-wide average energy efficiency by 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2003 — The domestic steel industry applauded President Bush's leadership today in issuing the comprehensive climate change initiative, Climate VISION (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now), designed to reduce the nation's greenhouse gas intensity by 18% in the next ten years and committed itself to a 10% improvement in energy consumption per ton of steel shipped as its part toward achieving this goal. By accomplishing this objective, the steel industry will have reduced its energy intensity by over 50% since 1975.
"This marks the beginning of a heightened relationship between business and the White House toward achieving the President's long-term goal. Given our longstanding commitment to improving the environment, the American steel industry is pleased to accept the President's Climate VISION," Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), said. "The industry has long been a leader in reducing energy intensity in the steel manufacturing process, and correspondingly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Steel is also the most recycled material in the world. We are pleased to support the President's goal, and also to several objectives aimed at helping the nation reach that goal."
The steel industry's Climate VISION goal uses the 1998 Steel Industry Technology Roadmap as a basis for achieving a 10% improvement by 2012.
Sharkey said that AISI, in cooperation with the Department of Energy (DOE), developed and published the Roadmap, which estimated the energy required to produce a ton of steel, established energy intensity goals for 2010 and 2020, and identified the research and development needed to achieve those goals.
"This aggressive sector-wide goal will be accomplished by a combination of industry restructuring, technological changes, increased recycling, and other process improvements," he said. Sharkey also said that the application of new, advanced steel products, such as the industry's Ultra-Light Steel Auto Body - Advanced Vehicle Concept (ULSAB-AVC), will yield even greater energy and emissions benefits and will contribute further to the President's national goal. This five-passenger automobile design can achieve greater than 50 miles-per-gallon without compromising cost or safety.
In addition to this initial energy efficiency goal, Sharkey said AISI members are committed to the following actions as their contribution to the Climate VISION program:
Sharkey said the steel industry is actively engaged in major ongoing initiatives to reduce energy consumption and emissions while improving recycling rates. Since 1975, the industry has invested over $50 billion in new technology to improve energy efficiency and productivity. Over that time span, energy consumption per ton of steel shipped has been reduced by 45%, and greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced comparably.
The American Iron and Steel Institute is a non-profit association of North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. The Institute comprises 33 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 144 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's U.S. members represent approximately 70% of the nation's steel producing sector.
The mission of the Institute is to make steel the material of choice and enhance the competitiveness of its members and the North American steel industry. To achieve this, AISI focuses its work on improving the comparative value of North American steel, expanding traditional markets for steel while also growing new markets, and achieving leadership in environmental, health and safety performance. AISI is also the recognized source of accurate statistical information on the North American steel industry.
Page Last Modified: August 7, 2008
