Transverse Energy at RHIC in the Forward/Backward Direction using the PHENIX MPC

Transverse energy has been used to estimate energy density in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions and to discriminate between competing models of hadronic interactions. Furthermore, fluctuations in transverse energy might signal the presence of a critical point in the phase diagram of nuclear matter. The PHENIX Muon Piston Calorimeter (MPC) has acceptance in the range $3.1<|\eta|<3.8$. Status of the measurement of transverse energy using the PHENIX MPC at RHIC will be reported.