Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Empire Comfort Systems Inc. (Empire) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of vented home heating equipment. The waiver request pertains to certain basic models of Empire's condensing type direct heaters. In its petition, Empire provides an alternate test procedure, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103- 1993,``Method of Testing for AFUE of Residential Central Furnaces and Boilers.'' The alternate procedure omits those sections of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993 that do not apply to condensing type direct heaters. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Empire's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure.

This notice publishes the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Decision and Order in Case No. CAC-037, which amends the current waivers applicable to Mitsubishi's S&L Class and WR2 and WY Series products to require the use of Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute 1230 (AHRI) as the alternative test procedure.

This notice announces a reopening of the time period for submitting comments on the request for information on Building Energy Codes Cost Analysis published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2011. 76 FR 56413. The original comment period closed on October 13, 2011. The comment period is reopened for an additional 30 days.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. (LG) petition for waiver and application for interim waiver from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the clothes washer test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the LG petition.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee under section 9008(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register to allow for public participation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of section 1605(b)(1) (amended public interest waiver), with respect to the following solar photo-voltaic (PV) equipment: (1) Domestically-manufactured modules containing foreign-manufactured cells, (2) Foreign-manufactured modules, when completely comprised of domestically-manufactured cells, and (3) Any ancillary items and equipment (including, but not limited to, charge controllers, combiners and disconnect boxes, breakers and fuses, racks, trackers, lugs, wires, cables and all otherwise incidental equipment with the exception of inverters and batteries) when utilized in a solar installation involving a U.S. manufactured PV module, or a module manufactured abroad but comprised exclusively of domestically-manufactured cells.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will gather information on solar energy market indicators. The Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP) seeks to reduce non-hardware costs of solar systems associated with processes such as project siting, permitting and interconnection, system installation, and project financing. In order to direct strategic investments toward reducing those costs, the Agency requires information on the current status of non-hardware costs and the underlying cost drivers. Questions for this collection are focused on permitting processes, interconnection processes, available financing options, and planning and zoning issues as they relate to rooftop solar PV installations.

This notice announces a teleconference call of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463; 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from LG Electronics, Inc. (LG). The petition for waiver (hereafter ``petition'') requests a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure applicable to commercial package air-source and water-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. The petition is specific to the variable capacity Multi V III (commercial) multi- split heat pump models specified in LG's petition. Through this document, DOE: (1) Solicits comments, data, and information with respect to the LG petition; and (2) announces the grant of an interim waiver to LG from the existing DOE test procedure for the subject commercial multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps.

This notice publishes the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Decision and Order in Case No. CAC-033, which grants Fujitsu General Limited (Fujitsu) a waiver from the existing DOE test procedures applicable to commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. The waiver is specific to the Fujitsu AIRSTAGE V-II Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) multi-split commercial heat pump models specified in Fujitsu's petition for waiver. As a condition of this waiver, Fujitsu must use the alternate test procedure set forth in this notice to test and rate these AIRSTAGE V-II VRF multi-split commercial heat pumps.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) petition for waiver and application for interim waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of clothes washers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the clothes washer test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the Samsung petition.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2), (iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality), with respect to: five kilowatt (5kW) and fifty kilowatt (50kW) wind turbines for use on eligible EERE-Recovery Act funded projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting a nationwide limited waiver of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the Recovery Act under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2), (iron, steel, and the relevant manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality), with respect to Recovery Act projects funded by EERE for: (1) 2-10 horsepower, self contained, sensorless, variable speed pumps; (2) bi-directional bicycle counters; (3) 28W, 30W, and 60W 360 degree LED bulbs for retrofits of HPS streetlights; (4) bathroom ventilation fans with a built in occupancy sensors; (5) solar thermosiphon water heating systems certified by FSEC; (6) 40 Ton, factory-assembled, indirect-fired absorption chillers; (7) premium efficiency electric drive submersible pump motors (motors only, not pumps themselves); and (8) flush-to-handrail LED lighting systems.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will allow Department of Energy (DOE) to gather utility bill data in order to manage energy efficiency programs in the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs (OWIP) effectively. The utility billing data will help DOE determine the impacts and success of these programs in achieving savings, creating jobs, and expanding retrofit markets.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. DW-005) that grants to BSH Corporation (BSH) a waiver from the DOE dishwasher test procedure for certain basic models containing integrated or built-in water softeners. Under today's decision and order, BSH shall be required to test and rate its dishwashers with integrated water softeners using an alternate test procedure that takes this technology into account when measuring energy and water consumption.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., App. 2, the U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nominations for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Technical Advisory Committee).

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance a proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection will support the Weatherization Assistance Program Evaluation for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Period covering Program Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. A 60-day notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2011, 76FR 13398. No comments were received. This subsequent 30-day notice allows public comment on the final version of this information collection request. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please note that in the final version the estimated burden has increased, primarily due to the collection of utility bill data on multiple instances instead of once as previously planned.

This notice publishes the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Decision and Order in Case No. CAC-029, which grants Daikin AC (Americas) Inc. (Daikin) a waiver from the existing DOE test procedures applicable to commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. The waiver is specific to the Daikin VRV III-PB variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split commercial heat pumps. As a condition of this waiver, Daikin must use the alternate test procedure set forth in this notice to test and rate its VRV III-PB variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split commercial heat pumps.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes a petition for waiver from Fujitsu General Limited (Fujitsu). The petition for waiver (hereafter ``petition'') requests a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure applicable to commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. The petition is specific to the Fujitsu variable capacity AIRSTAGE V-II (commercial) multi-split heat pumps. Through this document, DOE: (1) Solicits comments, data, and information with respect to the Fujitsu petition; and (2) announces the grant of an interim waiver to Fujitsu from the existing DOE test procedure for the subject commercial multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps.