Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors: Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, 43015-43018 [2012-17878]
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43015
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 77, No. 141
Monday, July 23, 2012
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket No. EERE–2010–BT–STD–0027]
RIN 1904–AC28
Energy Conservation Standards for
Commercial and Industrial Electric
Motors: Public Meeting and Availability
of the Preliminary Technical Support
Document
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
availability of preliminary technical
support document.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE or Department) will hold
a public meeting to discuss and receive
comments on the following: the
equipment classes DOE plans to analyze
for the purpose of amending energy
conservation standards for certain
commercial and industrial electric
motors under section 342(b) of the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(EPCA), as amended; the analytical
framework, models, and tools that DOE
plans to use to evaluate standards for
this type of equipment; the results of
preliminary analyses performed by DOE
for this equipment; and the potential
energy conservation standard levels
derived from these analyses, which DOE
may consider for this equipment. DOE
also encourages interested parties to
submit written comments on these
subjects. To inform interested parties
and facilitate the public meeting and
comment process, DOE has prepared an
agenda, a preliminary technical support
document (TSD), and briefing materials,
which are available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/commercial/
electric_motors.html
DATES: The Department will hold a
public meeting on Tuesday, August 21,
2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in
Washington, DC. Any person requesting
to speak at the public meeting should
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SUMMARY:
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submit such request, along with an
electronic copy of the statement to be
given at the public meeting, before 4:00
p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012. Written
comments are welcome, especially
following the public meeting, and
should be submitted by September 7,
2012.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be
held at the U.S. Department of Energy,
Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. Please
note that foreign nationals participating
in the public meeting are subject to
advance security screening procedures.
If a foreign national wishes to
participate in the public meeting, please
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, at (202)
586–2945, not later than August 7, 2012,
to provide sufficient time to complete
the required screening process.
Interested persons may submit
comments, identified by the notice title
(Notice of Public Meeting (NOPM) for
Energy Conservation Standards for
Commercial and Industrial Electric
Motors under section 342(b) of the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(EPCA)), and provide the docket number
(EERE–2010–BT–STD–0027) and/or the
regulatory information number ((RIN)
1904–AC28). Comments may be
submitted using any of the following
methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
2. Email: ElecMotors-2010–STD–
0027@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket
number and/or RIN in the subject line
of the message.
3. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards,
U.S. Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC, 20585–0121. If
possible, please submit all items on a
compact disk (CD). It is not necessary to
include printed copies.
4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda
Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, 950
L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600,
Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone:
(202) 586–2945. If possible, please
submit all items on a CD, in which case
it is not necessary to include printed
copies.
Written comments regarding the
burden-hour estimates or other aspects
of the collection-of-information
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requirements contained in this proposed
rule may be submitted to Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy through the methods previously
listed and by email to
Chad_S_Whiteman@omb.eop.gov.
For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see section IV of this document (Public
Participation).
Docket: The docket is available for
review at www.regulations.gov,
including Federal Register notices,
framework documents, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts,
comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. However,
not all documents listed in the index
may be publicly available, such as
information that is exempt from public
disclosure.
A link to the docket web page can be
found at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/
buildings/appliance_standards/
commercial/electric_motors.html. This
web page will contain a link to the
docket for this notice on the
regulations.gov site. The regulations.gov
web page will contain simple
instructions on how to access all
documents, including public comments,
in the docket.
For further information on how to
submit a comment, review other public
comments and the docket, or participate
in the public meeting, contact Ms.
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by
email: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
James Raba, U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Program, EE–2J, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–8654. Email:
Jim.Raba@ee.doe.gov.
In the Office of the General Counsel,
contact Ms. Ami Grace-Tardy, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC–71, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585. Telephone:
(202) 586–5709. Email: Ami.GraceTardy@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Statutory Authority
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II. History of Standards Rulemaking for
Commercial and Industrial Electric
Motors
A. Background
B. Current Rulemaking Process
III. Summary of the Analyses
A. Engineering Analysis
B. Markups To Determine Equipment
Prices
C. Energy Use Analysis
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
Analyses
E. National Impact Analysis
IV. Public Participation
I. Statutory Authority
The Energy Policy and Conservation
Act (EPCA), Public Law 94–163, 42
U.S.C. 6291–6317, as amended by the
Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT
1992), Public Law 102–486, establishes
energy conservation standards and test
procedures for certain commercial and
industrial electric motors manufactured
(alone or as a component of another
piece of equipment) after October 24,
1997. In December 2007, the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007
(EISA 2007), Public Law 110–140,
amended EPCA to update the
established energy conservation
standards for electric motors and set
forth additional energy conservation
standards for a larger scope of motors
not previously covered. (42 U.S.C.
6313(b)(2))
EPCA directs that the Secretary of
Energy shall publish a final rule no later
than 24 months after the effective date
of the previous final rule to determine
whether to amend the standards in
effect for such equipment. Any such
amendment would apply to electric
motors manufactured after a date which
is five years after: (i) The effective date
of the previous amendment; or (ii) if the
previous final rule did not amend the
standards, the earliest date by which a
previous amendment could have been
effective. (42 U.S.C. 6313(b)(4)(B))
Before amending any energy
conservation standard for certain
commercial and industrial electric
motors, the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE or the Department) must first
solicit comments on a proposed
standard. In doing so, the standard must
generally be designed to: (1) achieve the
maximum improvement in energy
efficiency that is technologically
feasible and economically justified; and
(2) result in significant conservation of
energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A) and
(o)(3)(B), 42 U.S.C. 6316(a)) To
determine whether a proposed standard
is economically justified, DOE must,
after receiving comments on the
proposed standard, determine whether
the benefits of the standard exceed its
burdens to the greatest extent
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practicable, weighing the following
seven factors:
1. The economic impact of the
standard on manufacturers and
customers of equipment subject to the
standard;
2. The savings in operating costs
throughout the estimated average life of
the covered equipment in the type (or
class) compared to any increase in the
price, initial charges, or maintenance
expenses for the covered equipment
which are likely to result from the
imposition of the standard;
3. The total projected amount of
energy savings likely to result directly
from the imposition of the standard;
4. Any lessening of the utility or the
performance of the covered equipment
likely to result from the imposition of
the standard;
5. The impact of any lessening of
competition, as determined in writing
by the Attorney General, that is likely to
result from the imposition of the
standard;
6. The need for national energy
conservation; and
7. Other factors the Secretary of
Energy considers relevant. (42 U.S.C.
6295(o)(2)(B)(i) and 6316(a))
Prior to proposing a standard, DOE
typically seeks public input on the
analytical framework, and software
models and tools that will be used to
evaluate standards; the results of
preliminary analyses; and potential
energy conservation standard levels
derived from these analyses. Today’s
notice announces the availability of a
preliminary technical support document
(TSD), which details the preliminary
analyses performed by DOE and
summarizes the preliminary results. In
addition, DOE is announcing a public
meeting to solicit feedback from
interested parties on its analytical
framework, models, and preliminary
results.
II. History of Standards Rulemaking for
Commercial and Industrial Electric
Motors
The following sections provide a brief
summary of the rulemaking activities for
commercial and industrial electric
motors energy conservation standards.
A. Background
The amendments created by EISA
2007 comprise the most recent revisions
to EPCA and the energy conservation
standards for electric motors. Because
these amendments are already effective
and required for manufacturers to meet,
DOE is, consistent with the statute,
planning to publish a final rule to
determine whether to amend the EISA
2007 energy conservation standards for
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electric motors. Any amended standards
that DOE establishes would be
published as part of that determination
and would apply to electric motors
manufactured on a date starting no
earlier than five years after the
December 19, 2010, effective date of the
previous electric motors standard.
Therefore, any amended standards that
DOE establishes as a result of this
rulemaking would have a compliance
date no sooner than December 19, 2015.
(42 U.S.C. 6313(b)(4)(B))
B. Current Rulemaking Process
To initiate the commercial and
industrial electric motors rulemaking,
the Department published on its Web
site the ‘‘Energy Conservation Standards
Rulemaking Framework Document for
Commercial and Industrial Electric
Motors’’ (75 FR 59657 (September 28,
2010)) The framework document
describes the procedural and analytical
approaches DOE anticipates using to
evaluate energy conservation standards
for electric motors. This document is
available at: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/commercial/
electric_motors.html.
DOE held a public meeting on
October 18, 2010, to discuss the
analyses and issues identified in various
sections of the framework document. At
the meeting, DOE described the
different analyses it would conduct, the
methods proposed for conducting them,
and the relationships among the various
analyses. Representatives for
manufacturers, trade associations,
energy efficiency advocacy
organizations, testing laboratories, and
other interested parties attended the
meeting. Comments received since
publication of the framework document
have helped DOE identify and resolve
issues involved in the preliminary
analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary
TSD summarizes and addresses the
comments DOE received.
III. Summary of the Analyses
For each type of electric motor under
consideration in this rulemaking, DOE
conducted in-depth technical analyses
in the following areas: (1) Engineering,
(2) markups to determine equipment
price, (3) energy use, (4) life-cycle cost
(LCC) and payback period (PBP), and (5)
national impact analysis (NIA). The
preliminary TSD presents the
methodology and results of each of
these analyses. It is available at the web
address given in the SUMMARY section of
this notice (https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/commercial/
electric_motors.html). The analyses are
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described in more detail following this
paragraph.
DOE also conducted several other
analyses that either support the five
major analyses or are preliminary
analyses that will be expanded upon for
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)
if DOE determines that amended energy
conservation standards are
technologically feasible, economically
justified, and would save a significant
amount of energy, based on the
information presented to the
Department. The analyses include a
market and technology assessment,
screening analysis (that contributes to
the engineering analysis), and
shipments analysis (that contributes to
the NIA). In addition to these analyses,
DOE has completed preliminary work
on a manufacturer impact analysis
(MIA) that includes methodologies to be
used for the LCC subgroup analysis, the
emissions analysis, the employment
impact analysis, the regulatory impact
analysis, and the utility impact analysis.
DOE will expand on these analyses in
the NOPR.
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A. Engineering Analysis
The engineering analysis establishes
the relationship between the cost and
efficiency of the equipment DOE is
evaluating. This relationship serves as
the basis for cost-benefit calculations for
individual customers, manufacturers,
and the nation. The engineering analysis
identifies representative baseline
equipment, which is the starting point
for analyzing technologies that provide
energy efficiency improvements.
Baseline equipment refers to a model or
models having features and technologies
typically found in equipment currently
offered for sale. The baseline model in
each equipment class represents the
characteristics of the least efficient
equipment in that class and, for
equipment already subject to energy
conservation standards, usually is a
model that just meets the current
standard. Chapter 5 of the preliminary
TSD discusses the engineering analysis.
B. Markups To Determine Equipment
Prices
DOE derives customer prices for
equipment from data on manufacturer
costs, manufacturer markups, retailer
markups, distributor markups, and sales
taxes. In deriving these markups, DOE
has determined: (1) The distribution
channels for equipment sales; (2) the
markup associated with each party in
the distribution chain; and (3) the
existence and magnitude of differences
between markups for baseline
equipment (baseline markups) and
markups for more efficient equipment
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(incremental markups). DOE calculates
both overall baseline and overall
incremental markups based on the
equipment markups at each step in the
distribution chain. The overall
incremental markup relates the change
in the manufacturer sales price of higher
efficiency models (the incremental cost
increase) to the change in the retailer or
distributor sales price. Chapter 6 of the
preliminary TSD addresses estimating
markups.
C. Energy Use Analysis
The energy use analysis provides
estimates of the annual energy
consumption of commercial and
industrial electric motors. DOE uses
these values in the LCC and PBP
analyses and in the NIA. DOE
developed energy consumption
estimates for all equipment analyzed in
the engineering analysis. Chapter 7 of
the preliminary TSD addresses the
energy use analysis.
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period
Analyses
The LCC and PBP analyses determine
the economic impact of potential
standards on individual customers. The
LCC is the total customer expense for
equipment over the life of the
equipment. The LCC analysis compares
the LCCs of equipment designed to meet
possible energy conservation standards
with the LCCs of the equipment likely
to be installed in the absence of
standards. DOE determines LCCs by
considering: (1) Total or incremental
installed cost to the purchaser (which
consists of manufacturer selling price,
sales taxes, distribution chain markups,
and installation cost); (2) the operating
expenses of the equipment (energy use
and maintenance); (3) equipment
lifetime; and (4) a discount rate that
reflects the real consumer cost of capital
and describes the LCC in present-value
terms. The PBP is the number of years
needed to recover the increase in
purchase price (including installation
cost) of more efficient equipment
through savings in the operating cost of
the equipment. It is the quotient of the
change in total installed cost due to
increased efficiency divided by the
change in annual operating cost from
increased efficiency. Chapter 8 of the
preliminary TSD addresses the LCC and
PBP analyses.
E. National Impact Analysis
The NIA estimates the national energy
savings (NES) and the net present value
(NPV) of total customer costs and
savings expected to result from new
standards at specific efficiency levels.
DOE calculated NES and NPV for each
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43017
candidate standard level as the
difference between a base case forecast
(without new standards) and the
standards case forecast (with standards
at that level). Cumulative energy savings
are the sum of the annual NES
determined over a specified time period.
The national NPV is the sum over time
of the discounted net savings each year,
which consists of the difference
between total operating cost savings and
increases in total installed costs. Critical
inputs to this analysis include
shipments projections, estimated
equipment lifetimes, and estimates of
changes in shipments in response to
changes in equipment costs due to
standards. Chapter 10 of the preliminary
TSD addresses the NIA.
IV. Public Participation
DOE consulted with interested parties
as part of its process for conducting all
of the analyses and invites further input
from the public on these topics. The
preliminary analytical results are
subject to revision following review and
input from the public.
The Department encourages those
who wish to participate in the public
meeting to obtain the preliminary TSD
and to be prepared to discuss its
contents. A copy of the preliminary TSD
is available at the Web address given in
the SUMMARY section of this notice.
However, public meeting participants
need not limit their comments to the
topics identified in the preliminary
TSD; the Department is also interested
in receiving views concerning other
relevant issues that participants believe
would affect energy conservation
standards for this equipment or that
DOE should address in the NOPR.
Furthermore, the Department invites
all interested parties, regardless of
whether they participate in the public
meeting, to submit in writing by
September 7, 2012, comments, data, and
information on matters addressed in the
preliminary TSD and on other matters
relevant to consideration of energy
conservation standards for commercial
and industrial electric motors.
The public meeting will be conducted
in an informal, conference style. A court
reporter will be present to record the
minutes of the meeting. There shall be
no discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, market
shares, or other commercial matters
covered under United States antitrust
laws.
After the public meeting and the
expiration of the period for submitting
written statements, the Department will
consider all comments and additional
information that it obtains from
interested parties or through further
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2012 / Proposed Rules
analyses. Afterwards, the Department
will publish either a determination that
the standards for commercial and
industrial electric motors need not be
amended or a NOPR proposing to
amend those standards. Any NOPR will
include proposed energy conservation
standards for the equipment covered by
this rulemaking, and interested parties
will be given an opportunity to submit
written and oral comments on the
proposed standards.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 10,
2012.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012–17878 Filed 7–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
29 CFR Part 1926
[Docket No. OSHA–2011–0184]
RIN 1218–AC65
Updating OSHA Construction
Standards Based on National
Consensus Standards; Head
Protection; Correction of Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Department of
Labor.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking;
correction.
AGENCY:
OSHA is correcting a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with
regard to the construction industry head
protection standards to eliminate
confusion resulting from a drafting
error. OSHA published the NPRM on
June 22, 2012 (77 FR 37617). OSHA also
is publishing a correction to the direct
final rule that it published the same day
in the Federal Register (77 FR 37587).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
General information and press
inquiries: Contact Frank Meilinger,
OSHA Office of Communications, Room
N–3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20210; telephone: (202) 693–1999;
email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
Technical inquiries: Contact Kenneth
Stevanus, Directorate of Standards and
Guidance, Room N–3609, OSHA, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210;
telephone: (202) 693–2260; fax: (202)
693–1663; email: stevanus.ken@dol.gov.
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SUMMARY:
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OSHA is
making the following correction in FR
document number 2012–15031,
appearing on page 37630 in the Federal
Register of Friday, June 22, 2012:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
§ 1926.100
Partial Approval and Partial
Disapproval of Air Quality
Implementation Plans for Florida,
Mississippi, and South Carolina; Clean
Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I)
Transport Requirements for the 2006
24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter
National Ambient Air Quality
Standards
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[Corrected]
On page 37630, correct instruction
number 16, to read as follows:
16. Amend § 1926.100 as follows:
a. Remove paragraph (c).
b. Revise paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
1926.100
Head protection.
*
*
*
*
*
(b) Criteria for head protection. (1)
The employer must provide each
employee with head protection that
meets the specifications contained in
any of the following consensus
standards:
(i) American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Z89.1–2009, ‘‘American
National Standard for Industrial Head
Protection,’’ incorporated by reference
in § 1926.6;
(ii) American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Z89.1–2003, ‘‘American
National Standard for Industrial Head
Protection,’’ incorporated by reference
in § 1926.6; or
(iii) American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Z89.1–1997, ‘‘American
National Standard for Personnel
Protection—Protective Headwear for
Industrial Workers—Requirements,’’
incorporated by reference in § 1926.6.
(2) The employer must ensure that the
head protection provided for each
employee exposed to high-voltage
electric shock and burns also meets the
specifications contained in Section 9.7
(‘‘Electrical Insulation’’) of any of the
consensus standards identified in
paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(3) OSHA will deem any head
protection device that the employer
demonstrates is at least as effective as a
head protection device constructed in
accordance with one of the consensus
standards identified in paragraph (b)(1)
of this section to be in compliance with
the requirements of this section.
Signed at Washington, DC on July 17, 2012.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational
Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2012–17871 Filed 7–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R04–OAR–2012–0553; FRL–9702–7]
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
EPA is proposing to partially
approve and partially disapprove
revisions to the State Implementation
Plans (SIPs) for Florida, Mississippi,
and South Carolina submitted on
September 23, 2009, October 6, 2009
and September 18, 2009, respectively.
EPA is proposing to approve the
determinations, contained in those
submittals, that the existing SIPs for
Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina
are adequate to meet the obligation
under section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of the
Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) to address
interstate transport requirements with
regard to the 2006 24-hour particulate
matter (PM2.5) national ambient air
quality standard (NAAQS). Specifically,
the interstate transport requirements
contained in section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) of
the CAA prohibit a state’s emissions
from significantly contributing to
nonattainment or interfering with the
maintenance of the NAAQS in any other
state. EPA is proposing to approve the
States’ determinations that their existing
SIPs satisfy this requirement and to
conclude that additional control
measures are not necessary under
section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) because
emissions from Florida, Mississippi and
South Carolina do not contribute
significantly to nonattainment or
interfere with maintenance of the 2006
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS in any other
state. EPA is also proposing to
disapprove the SIP submissions from
Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina
to the extent that they rely on the Clean
Air Interstate Rule to meet the
110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) requirements for the
2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. Because
the Clean Air Interstate Rule has been
remanded by the court and did not
address the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, it
cannot be relied upon to satisfy any
requirements related to that NAAQS. In
this action, EPA is only addressing the
SIP revisions respecting section
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43015-43018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17878]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2012 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 43015]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0027]
RIN 1904-AC28
Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial and Industrial
Electric Motors: Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary
Technical Support Document
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of preliminary
technical support document.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or Department) will hold a
public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the following: the
equipment classes DOE plans to analyze for the purpose of amending
energy conservation standards for certain commercial and industrial
electric motors under section 342(b) of the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended; the analytical framework, models,
and tools that DOE plans to use to evaluate standards for this type of
equipment; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for
this equipment; and the potential energy conservation standard levels
derived from these analyses, which DOE may consider for this equipment.
DOE also encourages interested parties to submit written comments on
these subjects. To inform interested parties and facilitate the public
meeting and comment process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary
technical support document (TSD), and briefing materials, which are
available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/electric_motors.html
DATES: The Department will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, August 21,
2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person
requesting to speak at the public meeting should submit such request,
along with an electronic copy of the statement to be given at the
public meeting, before 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2012. Written
comments are welcome, especially following the public meeting, and
should be submitted by September 7, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals
participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in
the public meeting, please contact Ms. Brenda Edwards, at (202) 586-
2945, not later than August 7, 2012, to provide sufficient time to
complete the required screening process.
Interested persons may submit comments, identified by the notice
title (Notice of Public Meeting (NOPM) for Energy Conservation
Standards for Commercial and Industrial Electric Motors under section
342(b) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)), and provide
the docket number (EERE-2010-BT-STD-0027) and/or the regulatory
information number ((RIN) 1904-AC28). Comments may be submitted using
any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
2. Email: ElecMotors-2010-STD-0027@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket
number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message.
3. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC, 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items
on a compact disk (CD). It is not necessary to include printed copies.
4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of
Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC, 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible,
please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to
include printed copies.
Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this
proposed rule may be submitted to Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy through the methods previously listed and by email to
Chad_S_Whiteman@omb.eop.gov.
For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see section IV of this document
(Public Participation).
Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov,
including Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the
index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt
from public disclosure.
A link to the docket web page can be found at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/electric_motors.html. This web page will contain a link to the docket
for this notice on the regulations.gov site. The regulations.gov web
page will contain simple instructions on how to access all documents,
including public comments, in the docket.
For further information on how to submit a comment, review other
public comments and the docket, or participate in the public meeting,
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Raba, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Program, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington,
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-8654. Email: Jim.Raba@ee.doe.gov.
In the Office of the General Counsel, contact Ms. Ami Grace-Tardy,
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-71, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-
5709. Email: Ami.Grace-Tardy@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Statutory Authority
[[Page 43016]]
II. History of Standards Rulemaking for Commercial and Industrial
Electric Motors
A. Background
B. Current Rulemaking Process
III. Summary of the Analyses
A. Engineering Analysis
B. Markups To Determine Equipment Prices
C. Energy Use Analysis
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses
E. National Impact Analysis
IV. Public Participation
I. Statutory Authority
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163,
42 U.S.C. 6291-6317, as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT
1992), Public Law 102-486, establishes energy conservation standards
and test procedures for certain commercial and industrial electric
motors manufactured (alone or as a component of another piece of
equipment) after October 24, 1997. In December 2007, the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), Public Law 110-140,
amended EPCA to update the established energy conservation standards
for electric motors and set forth additional energy conservation
standards for a larger scope of motors not previously covered. (42
U.S.C. 6313(b)(2))
EPCA directs that the Secretary of Energy shall publish a final
rule no later than 24 months after the effective date of the previous
final rule to determine whether to amend the standards in effect for
such equipment. Any such amendment would apply to electric motors
manufactured after a date which is five years after: (i) The effective
date of the previous amendment; or (ii) if the previous final rule did
not amend the standards, the earliest date by which a previous
amendment could have been effective. (42 U.S.C. 6313(b)(4)(B))
Before amending any energy conservation standard for certain
commercial and industrial electric motors, the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE or the Department) must first solicit comments on a
proposed standard. In doing so, the standard must generally be designed
to: (1) achieve the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is
technologically feasible and economically justified; and (2) result in
significant conservation of energy. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A) and
(o)(3)(B), 42 U.S.C. 6316(a)) To determine whether a proposed standard
is economically justified, DOE must, after receiving comments on the
proposed standard, determine whether the benefits of the standard
exceed its burdens to the greatest extent practicable, weighing the
following seven factors:
1. The economic impact of the standard on manufacturers and
customers of equipment subject to the standard;
2. The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average
life of the covered equipment in the type (or class) compared to any
increase in the price, initial charges, or maintenance expenses for the
covered equipment which are likely to result from the imposition of the
standard;
3. The total projected amount of energy savings likely to result
directly from the imposition of the standard;
4. Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the covered
equipment likely to result from the imposition of the standard;
5. The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the
imposition of the standard;
6. The need for national energy conservation; and
7. Other factors the Secretary of Energy considers relevant. (42
U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(B)(i) and 6316(a))
Prior to proposing a standard, DOE typically seeks public input on
the analytical framework, and software models and tools that will be
used to evaluate standards; the results of preliminary analyses; and
potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these
analyses. Today's notice announces the availability of a preliminary
technical support document (TSD), which details the preliminary
analyses performed by DOE and summarizes the preliminary results. In
addition, DOE is announcing a public meeting to solicit feedback from
interested parties on its analytical framework, models, and preliminary
results.
II. History of Standards Rulemaking for Commercial and Industrial
Electric Motors
The following sections provide a brief summary of the rulemaking
activities for commercial and industrial electric motors energy
conservation standards.
A. Background
The amendments created by EISA 2007 comprise the most recent
revisions to EPCA and the energy conservation standards for electric
motors. Because these amendments are already effective and required for
manufacturers to meet, DOE is, consistent with the statute, planning to
publish a final rule to determine whether to amend the EISA 2007 energy
conservation standards for electric motors. Any amended standards that
DOE establishes would be published as part of that determination and
would apply to electric motors manufactured on a date starting no
earlier than five years after the December 19, 2010, effective date of
the previous electric motors standard. Therefore, any amended standards
that DOE establishes as a result of this rulemaking would have a
compliance date no sooner than December 19, 2015. (42 U.S.C.
6313(b)(4)(B))
B. Current Rulemaking Process
To initiate the commercial and industrial electric motors
rulemaking, the Department published on its Web site the ``Energy
Conservation Standards Rulemaking Framework Document for Commercial and
Industrial Electric Motors'' (75 FR 59657 (September 28, 2010)) The
framework document describes the procedural and analytical approaches
DOE anticipates using to evaluate energy conservation standards for
electric motors. This document is available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/electric_motors.html.
DOE held a public meeting on October 18, 2010, to discuss the
analyses and issues identified in various sections of the framework
document. At the meeting, DOE described the different analyses it would
conduct, the methods proposed for conducting them, and the
relationships among the various analyses. Representatives for
manufacturers, trade associations, energy efficiency advocacy
organizations, testing laboratories, and other interested parties
attended the meeting. Comments received since publication of the
framework document have helped DOE identify and resolve issues involved
in the preliminary analyses. Chapter 2 of the preliminary TSD
summarizes and addresses the comments DOE received.
III. Summary of the Analyses
For each type of electric motor under consideration in this
rulemaking, DOE conducted in-depth technical analyses in the following
areas: (1) Engineering, (2) markups to determine equipment price, (3)
energy use, (4) life-cycle cost (LCC) and payback period (PBP), and (5)
national impact analysis (NIA). The preliminary TSD presents the
methodology and results of each of these analyses. It is available at
the web address given in the SUMMARY section of this notice (https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/electric_motors.html). The analyses are
[[Page 43017]]
described in more detail following this paragraph.
DOE also conducted several other analyses that either support the
five major analyses or are preliminary analyses that will be expanded
upon for a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) if DOE determines that
amended energy conservation standards are technologically feasible,
economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy,
based on the information presented to the Department. The analyses
include a market and technology assessment, screening analysis (that
contributes to the engineering analysis), and shipments analysis (that
contributes to the NIA). In addition to these analyses, DOE has
completed preliminary work on a manufacturer impact analysis (MIA) that
includes methodologies to be used for the LCC subgroup analysis, the
emissions analysis, the employment impact analysis, the regulatory
impact analysis, and the utility impact analysis. DOE will expand on
these analyses in the NOPR.
A. Engineering Analysis
The engineering analysis establishes the relationship between the
cost and efficiency of the equipment DOE is evaluating. This
relationship serves as the basis for cost-benefit calculations for
individual customers, manufacturers, and the nation. The engineering
analysis identifies representative baseline equipment, which is the
starting point for analyzing technologies that provide energy
efficiency improvements. Baseline equipment refers to a model or models
having features and technologies typically found in equipment currently
offered for sale. The baseline model in each equipment class represents
the characteristics of the least efficient equipment in that class and,
for equipment already subject to energy conservation standards, usually
is a model that just meets the current standard. Chapter 5 of the
preliminary TSD discusses the engineering analysis.
B. Markups To Determine Equipment Prices
DOE derives customer prices for equipment from data on manufacturer
costs, manufacturer markups, retailer markups, distributor markups, and
sales taxes. In deriving these markups, DOE has determined: (1) The
distribution channels for equipment sales; (2) the markup associated
with each party in the distribution chain; and (3) the existence and
magnitude of differences between markups for baseline equipment
(baseline markups) and markups for more efficient equipment
(incremental markups). DOE calculates both overall baseline and overall
incremental markups based on the equipment markups at each step in the
distribution chain. The overall incremental markup relates the change
in the manufacturer sales price of higher efficiency models (the
incremental cost increase) to the change in the retailer or distributor
sales price. Chapter 6 of the preliminary TSD addresses estimating
markups.
C. Energy Use Analysis
The energy use analysis provides estimates of the annual energy
consumption of commercial and industrial electric motors. DOE uses
these values in the LCC and PBP analyses and in the NIA. DOE developed
energy consumption estimates for all equipment analyzed in the
engineering analysis. Chapter 7 of the preliminary TSD addresses the
energy use analysis.
D. Life-Cycle Cost and Payback Period Analyses
The LCC and PBP analyses determine the economic impact of potential
standards on individual customers. The LCC is the total customer
expense for equipment over the life of the equipment. The LCC analysis
compares the LCCs of equipment designed to meet possible energy
conservation standards with the LCCs of the equipment likely to be
installed in the absence of standards. DOE determines LCCs by
considering: (1) Total or incremental installed cost to the purchaser
(which consists of manufacturer selling price, sales taxes,
distribution chain markups, and installation cost); (2) the operating
expenses of the equipment (energy use and maintenance); (3) equipment
lifetime; and (4) a discount rate that reflects the real consumer cost
of capital and describes the LCC in present-value terms. The PBP is the
number of years needed to recover the increase in purchase price
(including installation cost) of more efficient equipment through
savings in the operating cost of the equipment. It is the quotient of
the change in total installed cost due to increased efficiency divided
by the change in annual operating cost from increased efficiency.
Chapter 8 of the preliminary TSD addresses the LCC and PBP analyses.
E. National Impact Analysis
The NIA estimates the national energy savings (NES) and the net
present value (NPV) of total customer costs and savings expected to
result from new standards at specific efficiency levels. DOE calculated
NES and NPV for each candidate standard level as the difference between
a base case forecast (without new standards) and the standards case
forecast (with standards at that level). Cumulative energy savings are
the sum of the annual NES determined over a specified time period. The
national NPV is the sum over time of the discounted net savings each
year, which consists of the difference between total operating cost
savings and increases in total installed costs. Critical inputs to this
analysis include shipments projections, estimated equipment lifetimes,
and estimates of changes in shipments in response to changes in
equipment costs due to standards. Chapter 10 of the preliminary TSD
addresses the NIA.
IV. Public Participation
DOE consulted with interested parties as part of its process for
conducting all of the analyses and invites further input from the
public on these topics. The preliminary analytical results are subject
to revision following review and input from the public.
The Department encourages those who wish to participate in the
public meeting to obtain the preliminary TSD and to be prepared to
discuss its contents. A copy of the preliminary TSD is available at the
Web address given in the SUMMARY section of this notice. However,
public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the topics
identified in the preliminary TSD; the Department is also interested in
receiving views concerning other relevant issues that participants
believe would affect energy conservation standards for this equipment
or that DOE should address in the NOPR.
Furthermore, the Department invites all interested parties,
regardless of whether they participate in the public meeting, to submit
in writing by September 7, 2012, comments, data, and information on
matters addressed in the preliminary TSD and on other matters relevant
to consideration of energy conservation standards for commercial and
industrial electric motors.
The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, conference
style. A court reporter will be present to record the minutes of the
meeting. There shall be no discussion of proprietary information, costs
or prices, market shares, or other commercial matters covered under
United States antitrust laws.
After the public meeting and the expiration of the period for
submitting written statements, the Department will consider all
comments and additional information that it obtains from interested
parties or through further
[[Page 43018]]
analyses. Afterwards, the Department will publish either a
determination that the standards for commercial and industrial electric
motors need not be amended or a NOPR proposing to amend those
standards. Any NOPR will include proposed energy conservation standards
for the equipment covered by this rulemaking, and interested parties
will be given an opportunity to submit written and oral comments on the
proposed standards.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2012.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012-17878 Filed 7-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
