Department of Energy September 11, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or (the Department) announces the establishment of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (Committee), pursuant to, the National Quantum Initiative Act, and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as delegated to the Department by the President under Executive Order 13885. The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the President, Secretary of Energy, and the National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS) on the National Quantum Initiative (NQI). This advice will include assessments of trends and developments in quantum information science and technology (QIST), implementation and management of the NQI, whether NQI activities are helping to maintain United States leadership in QIST, whether program revisions are necessary, what opportunities exist for international collaboration and open standards, and whether national security and economic considerations are adequately addressed by the NQI. The Secretary of Energy is requesting nominations for membership to the Committee. The Secretary of Energy, with input from the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy or the Director's designee (as co-chair of the Committee), will consider nominations received in response to this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is publishing an analysis of the energy savings potential of amended industry consensus standards for certain classes of computer room air conditioners (CRACs) and new industry standards for dedicated outdoor air systems (DOASes), which are types of commercial and industrial equipment. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended (EPCA), requires DOE to evaluate and assess whether there is a need to update its energy conservation standards following changes to the relevant industry consensus standards in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 (ASHRAE Standard 90.1). Additionally under EPCA, DOE must review the existing standards for this equipment at least once every six years and publish either a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to propose new standards or a notice of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended. Accordingly, DOE is also initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for classes of CRACs for which DOE has tentatively determined that the updated ASHRAE Standard 90.1 levels are not more stringent than the current Federal standards. This document solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for CRACs and new standards for DOASes would result in significant energy savings and whether such standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this document), as well as the submission of data and other relevant information.