You’ve talked and we’ve listened! Many of our members have expressed interest in working with TAEBC Charter Member Oak Ridge National Laboratory on projects, but are unsure of how to begin the process. In response to this concern, TAEBC members will receive a reduced registration fee for “Explore ORNL” on July 14-15.

“Explore ORNL” is a unique opportunity to discover the world-class capabilities at ORNL, including transportation technologies, materials characterization, Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and 3-D printing, among other topics.

Featured speakers include:

• Mark Muro, Brookings Institute
• Jamie Stitt, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
• Kim Ketchum, Tennessee Automotive Manufacturing Association
• Thom Mason, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The event will also include discussion panels spotlighting companies collaborating with ORNL and tours of ORNL user facilities.

Registration for Explore ORNL will close at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, July 3, 2015.

Click here to register. To receive the reduced registration fee*, click “TAEBC Member” under “Fee Selection.” (*Please note you must be a TAEBC member to get this rate.) 

The U.S. Department of Energy is currently deciding whether to approve the Plains & Eastern Clean Line transmission project (developed by TAEBC member Clean Line Energy Partners), and a petition is available online now to voice your support to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. The project will deliver low-cost wind energy from the wind-rich Oklahoma Panhandle region to utilities and customers in Arkansas, Tennessee and other markets in the Mid-South and Southeast.

The Plains & Eastern Clean Line also benefits local communities by stimulating economic development and creating new jobs. It will modernize America’s grid and create a cleaner energy future.

Click here for a link to the petition and letter of support.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing’s (ATVM) loan program enables the domestic manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles and components. To date, the Department’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) has helped accelerate the resurgence of American auto manufacturing by issuing more than $8 billion in direct loans, which supported the production of more than 9 million cars and approximately 35,000 direct jobs across eight states.

Recently, DOE announced a conditional commitment for a $259 million loan to Alcoa Inc. This conditional commitment is the first issued by DOE under the ATVM loan program since Secretary Moniz announced a number of improvements to the program last year, and is the first step toward issuing a final loan to Alcoa. If finalized, the loan would support the company’s Alcoa, Tenn., manufacturing facility, where the company will produce high-strength aluminum for North American automakers looking to lightweight their vehicles.

According to U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the ATVM loan program can play an important role in helping to finance expanded domestic manufacturing of fuel-efficient technologies that will support the next generation of advanced vehicles.

The loan is good news for Alcoa, and for Tennessee. More than one-third of Tennessee manufacturing jobs are auto-related, and investment in advanced manufacturing is an important part of how our state will continue to attract good-paying jobs, said Senator Lamar Alexander.

The automotive sector in Tennessee represents what may be the single largest opportunity to expand the use of advanced energy technologies. The industry is looking to a number of these technologies to improve fuel efficiency demanded by government and consumers. Alcoa is an example of a company creating new materials that will make possible significant reductions of vehicle weight and improvements in gas mileage.

Alcoa estimates that its expanded production is expected to create an additional 200 permanent full-time jobs, in addition to 400 jobs at the peak of construction.

For more information on the ATVM loan program and Alcoa’s loan, click here.