Department of Energy September 15, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) number DE-FOA-0002274 regarding Engaging States to Advance State Energy Office Priorities. The U.S Department of Energy's (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), State Energy Program (SEP) seeks information from the public on organizations, including industry, academia, nonprofit organizations, and others, that have the expertise and capacity to support state energy offices (SEOs). The desired outcome of this request is to enhance how DOE SEP delivers specific technical assistance and provides direct support to help states maximize the affordability, reliability, and resiliency of their state-led energy policies and programs.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``EPCA''), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including evaporatively-cooled commercial package air conditioners and water- cooled commercial package air conditioners (referred to as evaporatively-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (``ECUACs'') and water-cooled commercial unitary air conditioners (``WCUACs'') in this document). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') to periodically determine whether more stringent, amended standards would result in significant additional conservation of energy, be technologically feasible, and be economically justified. In this notice of proposed determination (``NOPD''), DOE has tentatively determined that the standards for small (cooling capacity less than 135,000 Btu/h), large (cooling capacity greater than or equal to 135,000 and less than 240,000 Btu/h), and very large (cooling capacity greater than or equal to 240,000 and less than 760,000 Btu/h) ECUACs and WCUACs do not need to be amended, and DOE requests comment on this proposed determination and the associated analyses and results.