The United States (US) electric motor industry has a history of utilizing an alternative regulatory process known as a negotiated rulemaking to shape the final outcome of DOE standards. However, in the past these negotiations were handled as singular events with only one outcome in mind – consensus on a set of specific amended energy conservation standards. While these negotiations enabled more proactive, collaborative engagement across industry and with DOE, these negotiations only provided industry with a regulatory roadmap spanning five to ten years.

During the latest round of DOE regulatory activity pertaining to motors, industry formed a coalition with energy efficiency advocates and utility representatives to develop both a test standard and a set of proposed energy conservation standards for the current cycle, as well as a shared vision for the long-term future of the US motor market.

Recognizing the higher contribution of variable speed technology to lower energy consumption as compared to motor efficiency alone, as well as the current trend among motor and drive manufacturers to adopt these technologies, the “Motor Coalition” is actively developing a multi-pronged approach to drive the motor market towards increased adoption of variable speed technologies. 

The Motor Coalition’s unique and collaborative approach will provide increased certainty and a long term roadmap for US motor manufacturers, while simultaneously ensuring significant energy savings can be achieved through electric motor regulations and their extended products. This paper analyzes the process undertaken by the Motor Coalition, identifies best practices and lessons learned, and discusses likely outcomes of Coalition activities on the future of the US motor market.