Department of Energy March 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On February 15, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a RFI seeking input on how DOE stakeholders may engage with the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI). This document makes a correction to that notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) announces the availability of the Guidance for the Second Award Cycle of the Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program authorized under of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Department is providing notification of the issuance of the U.S. Department of Energy Guidance for the Second Award Cycle of the Civil Nuclear Credit Program on SAM.gov. The Guidance describes the timelines, deliverables, and other 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 nuclear reactors, and instructions on formulating and submitting sealed bids to receive credit allocations.

The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Energy Agency (IEA) will meet on March 15, 16, 2023, as a hybrid meeting via webinar and in person, in connection with a joint meeting of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Market (SOM) which is scheduled at the same time via webinar.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of availability of the draft National Transmission Needs Study for public review and comment.

The rapidly emerging field of Quantum Information Science (QIS) has the potential to produce innovations in quantum computing, simulation, communication, sensing and other technologies which are critical to our nation's future economic and national security. As a new and strongly technology-oriented field, QIS requires a well-trained workforce to fill positions ranging from research and development to design and manufacturing. The Office of Science in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites input from higher education institutions on approaches needed to prepare students for careers related to QIS, including identification of opportunities where DOE's network of national laboratories could assist in training the future scientific and technological QIS workforce. Higher education institutions, including public and private universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions, community colleges, and emerging research institutions (defined as ``an institution of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that has less than $50,000,000 in Federal research expenditures'' [CHIPS and Science Act]), are especially encouraged to provide input.

This notice announces an open meeting of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

On February 17, 2023, the Department of Energy published a notice of open meeting announcing a meeting on March 16, 2023, of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Paducah. This notice announces the cancellation of this meeting.

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-549 (NGPA Section 311 Transactions, NGA Blanket Certificate Transactions, and Market-Based Rates for Storage) which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a review of the information collection requirements.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including residential clothes washers (``RCWs''). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') to periodically determine whether more-stringent, standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR''), DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for RCWs, and also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

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-725A(1B), (Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk Power System). There are no changes in the requirements of the collection.