WASHINGTON: Recognizing its contribution to environment protection through energy efficiency, the US government has selected Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal for its "Energy Star Partner of the Year" award.ArcelorMittal will be the first-ever steel company to get Energy Star award, while another Indian-run company PepsiCo, the global beverage giant led by Chennai-born Indra Nooyi, was conferred this honor in 2007.

The past Energy Star award recipients also include auto giants Ford and Toyota, pharmaceuticals major Merck, fast food chain McDonald's, American retail major JC Penney and defense equipments maker Raytheon.ArcelorMittal will be presented the award by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) here on April 1.

The 'Energy Star Partner of the Year for Energy Management' award is given by the EPA and the US Department of Energy for companies making outstanding contributions to protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.ArcelorMittal said in a statement that in late 2005 it was challenged to cut energy intensity by six per cent over a three-year period, using 2005 as the baseline.

This equates to a reduction of 192 million dollars in energy costs by 2009.ArcelorMittal Energy Committee was established in late 2005 with representatives from every US facility and each facility was responsible for setting energy reduction goals at their respective plants.

In January 2006, it launched a three-year ArcelorMittal Energy Reduction Initiative that provided an energy plan for the immediate future aiming to cut ArcelorMittal's energy and carbon intensity and, at the same time, improve its bottom line.