Department of Energy 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the notice of availability (NOA) and invites public comment on its request for information on the Defense Production Act (DPA), which will inform how the DPA authority provided to DOE through Presidential Determinations could best be used as a tool to accelerate manufacturing and deployment of clean energy technologies to bolster national defense, tackle climate change and environmental justice, and improve employment opportunities and broader economic prosperity for Americans. This RFI invites public comment on general use of DPA authority as well as potential program activities and/or designs addressing four of the five technology areas announced by the President on June 6, 2022: transformers and critical electric grid components; solar photovoltaics; insulation materials; and electrolyzers, platinum group metals, and fuel cells for clean hydrogen. Consistent with the intent of Congress, DOE plans to use $250 million of funds appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to support the fifth and final technology area for which the President issued a determination under the Defense Production Act on June 6, 2022, electric heat pumps. Thus, use of DPA Title III for heat pumps will be addressed in a separate, forthcoming DOE announcement for which public input will be sought.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to revise its regulations to provide incentive-based rate treatments for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce and the sale of electric energy at wholesale in interstate commerce by utilities for the purpose of benefitting consumers by encouraging investments by utilities in advanced cybersecurity technology and participation by utilities in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs, as directed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Infrastructure and Jobs Act). This notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) also terminates the NOPR proceeding in Docket No. RM21-3-000 (December 2020 Cybersecurity Incentives NOPR).

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for metal halide lamp fixtures (``MHLF''). On October 25, 2021, DOE published a final determination concluding that energy conservation standards for MHLFs do not need to be amended because they are not economically justified. No later than 3 years after such a determination, under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, DOE must periodically review these standards and publish either a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR'') to propose new standards for MHLFs or a notification of determination that the existing standards do not need to be amended. This request for information (``RFI'') solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for MHLFs would result in significant energy savings and whether such standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified. As part of this RFI, DOE seeks comment on technological and market changes since the most recent standards update to consider in its evaluation of more stringent standards. DOE also welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including those topics not specifically raised), as well as the submission of data and other relevant information.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection FERC-915 (Public Utility Market-Based Rate Authorization HoldersRecords Retention Requirements).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its draft Guidance for the Second Award Period for the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program authorized under of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The draft Guidance describes the timelines, deliverables, and other program requirements for owners or operators of eligible nuclear reactors that are projected to cease operations due to economic factors to submit certification applications to become certified, and instructions on formulating and submitting sealed bids to receive credit allocations.

This notice provides the Performance Review Board Standing Register for the Department of Energy. This listing supersedes all previously published lists of PRB members.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three-year extension of its collection, titled Portfolio Analysis and Management System, OMB Control Number 1910-5178. The proposed collection streamlines the submission, tracking, and correspondence portions of financial award pre-review processes. The information collected is used by the DOE to select applicants and projects for financial awards.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking proposing reforms to the Uniform System of Accounts (USofA) for public utilities and licensees to include new accounts for wind, solar, and other non-hydro renewable assets; create a new functional class for energy storage accounts; codify the accounting treatment of renewable energy credits; and create new accounts within existing functions for hardware, software, and communication equipment. We propose revisions to the relevant FERC forms to accommodate these changes. We also seek comment on whether the Chief Accountant should issue guidance on the accounting for hydrogen. The Commission invites all interested persons to submit comments on the proposed reforms and in response to specific questions.