Department of Energy September 23, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on August 27, 2015, by ConocoPhillips Company (ConocoPhillips), requesting blanket authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously imported into the United States from foreign sources in an amount up to the equivalent of 500 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas on a short-term or spot market basis for a two-year period commencing on January 1, 2016.\1\ ConocoPhillips seeks authorization to export the LNG from the LNG terminal facilities owned by Freeport LNG Development, L.P. located on Quintana Island, Texas,\2\ to any country with the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy. ConocoPhillips states that it does not seek authorization to export any domestically produced natural gas or LNG. DOE/FE notes that ConocoPhillips currently holds a blanket authorization to import LNG from various international sources by vessel, and to export LNG to Canada and Mexico by vessel, in an amount up to the equivalent of 500 Bcf of natural gas.\3\ ConocoPhillips is requesting this authorization both on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who will hold title to the LNG at the time of export. The Application was filed under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Additional details can be found in ConocoPhillips's Application, posted on the DOE/FE Web site at: https://energy.gov/fe/downloads/freeport-lng- development-lp-fe-dkt-no-15-130-lng. Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited.

On July 9, 2015, the Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the policy development related to the possible establishment of a national reserve of power transformers that support the bulk power grid and requested public comment by August 24, 2015. DOE is re-opening the original public comment period for this RFI.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including single package vertical air conditioner (SPVAC) and single package vertical heat pump (SPVHP) equipment (collectively referred to as single package vertical units or SPVUs). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more-stringent standards for SPVACs and SPVHPs would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this final rule, DOE is adopting standards equivalent to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)/ Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Standard 90.1-2013 levels for four SPVU equipment classes, and adopting amended energy conservation standards for two other equipment classes of single package vertical units more stringent than the SPVU standards in ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2013. DOE has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for this equipment are technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy.