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Clean Energy Alliance and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Announce New Collaboration

Partnership will expedite commercialization of clean energy technologies

Golden, Colo. – Clean Energy Alliance, Inc. (CEA), the national association of clean energy business incubators, and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), announced a new collaboration to help companies commercialize promising new clean technologies. This collaboration will enable qualifying companies in both the CEA and MEP networks to receive a broader range of services, and expedite the commercialization of clean energy technologies in the U.S. – facilitating U.S. energy independence and increasing U.S. energy efficiency, while creating jobs in the clean technology sector.

"CEA is excited to announce this ground-breaking new partnership between CEA and the MEP. It is an example of how inter-association partnerships can leverage scarce resources and top talent to achieve goals in energy independence and create jobs," said James F. Groelinger, executive director of CEA. He added, "This partnership is a true win-win because it's a great deal for U.S. taxpayers. The companies being mentored receive more services, and it helps grow the economy and spur the country's energy independence."

"This new CEA-MEP Partnership will help MEP continue to deliver a diverse set of services to the manufacturing industry," said Roger Kilmer, director of MEP. "By pairing the talent at MEP Centers around the country with the CEA incubators, we will be able to further leverage the investments of both the Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy and speed up the creation of a robust manufacturing base in the critical clean energy sector." 

CEA is the only national association of non-profit incubators with a focus on clean energy commercialization. It works through a membership of nearly 40 incubators and the thousands of companies they mentor nationwide, and is currently administering the Department of Energy Small Business and Clean Energy Alliance Partnership. MEP is a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). MEP is the only nationwide network to help small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to increase their competitiveness, create and retain jobs, and increase profits, working through its 60 independent MEP centers and nearly 400 field offices.

CEA and MEP have complementary objectives and portfolios, and the collaboration will enhance the effectiveness of both organizations. MEP Centers can leverage expanded business, financial, or technical support resources for their clients through the CEA member network; and CEA members can facilitate access for their clients to the NIST MEP network for the complementary manufacturing expertise provided by MEP Centers nationwide.

Contact: jgroelinger [at] cleanenergyalliance.com (James F. Groelinger), CEA Executive Director, 609-516-7669

About:
The Clean Energy Alliance (CEA), a non-profit organization founded by National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is the national association of leading business incubators and other entities dedicated to providing technical, business, and financial services tailored to the needs of the clean tech business development community. CEA focuses on developing practices and resources that support clean tech business incubation, entrepreneurial mentoring and development, and technology commercialization. www.cleanenergyalliance.com

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) works with small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers to help them create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money. The nationwide network provides a variety of services, from innovation strategies to process improvements to green manufacturing. MEP also works with partners at the state and federal levels on programs that put manufacturers in position to develop new customers, expand into new markets and create new products.

As a public/private partnership, MEP is highly effective, generating about $30 in new sales growth annually for every dollar of federal investment, which translates into $3.6 billion in new sales annually. For every $1,570 of federal investment, MEP creates or retains one manufacturing job. Get more information on the MEP CEA collaboration. (link removed because it is no longer active)

Released June 25, 2012, Updated January 24, 2023