Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-023) that grants to GE Appliances (GE) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver in Case RF-023. In its petition, GE provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559). Under today's decision and order, GE shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator- freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in DOE's final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559) that takes multiple defrost cycles into account when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wishes to continue promoting and improving the electronic tools it makes available to assist fleets and consumers in reducing petroleum consumption in vehicles. DOE is seeking partners interested in including customized versions of the electronic tools, as well as other relevant data sets and content, on their Web sites. To facilitate this process, DOE is publishing this request for information (RFI) to solicit feedback on DOE's current Web site tools.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CAC-039) that grants Fujitsu General Limited (Fujitsu) a waiver from the DOE commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps test procedures for determining the energy consumption set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, Fujitsu shall be required to test and rate its AIRSTAGE V-II multi-split heat pump with a capacity of 264,000 Btu/ h, and specified compatible indoor units using American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Standard 1230, as adopted in DOE's final rule dated May 16, 2012.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) was established under section 807 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 849. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, requires that agencies publish notice of an advisory committee meeting in the Federal Register. To attend the meeting and/or to make oral statements during the public comment period, please register no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 by email at: HTAC@nrel.gov. An early confirmation of attendance will help to facilitate access to the building more quickly. Entry to the building will be restricted to those who have confirmed their attendance in advance. Please provide your name, organization, citizenship, and contact information, and indicate whether you want to make an oral statement. Anyone attending the meeting will be required to present government issued identification.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. DW-007) 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.

DOE's Advanced Manufacturing Office, as part of the inter- agency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) announces the fourth of a series of public workshops entitled ``Designing for Impact: Workshop on Building the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. This workshop series provides a forum for the AMPNO to present on the proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) and its regional components, Institutes for Manufacturing Innovation (IMIs) and to provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposal. The discussion at the workshop will focus on the following topics: Technologies with Broad Impact, Institute Structure and Governance, Strategies for Sustainable Institute Operations, and Education and Workforce Development. The Designing for Impact workshop series is organized by representatives from the Department of Commerce, NIST; Department of Defense; Department of Energy; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and National Science Foundation.

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

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-022) that grants Sanyo E&E Corporation (Sanyo) a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator- freezer test procedures for determining the energy consumption of residential refrigerator-freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. Under today's decision and order, Sanyo shall be required to test and rate its hybrid wine chiller/beverage center basic models using an alternate test procedure that requires Sanyo to test the wine chiller compartment at 55 [deg]F instead of the prescribed temperature of 38 [deg]F.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. It also grants LG with an interim waiver from that procedure. The waiver request pertains to the basic models set forth in LG's petition that incorporate dual compressors. In its petition, LG provides an alternate test procedure that addresses difficulties in testing dual compressor systems according to the DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning LG's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is submitting 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 a National Evaluation of DOE's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. A 60-day notice and request for comments was published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2012 (77 FR 8852). No comments were received in response to this Notice. This subsequent 30-day notice allows public comment on the final version of the 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 the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Information about the outcomes of the program, including energy and cost savings, the net number of jobs created or retained, and gross reductions in carbon emissions, is needed for a comprehensive evaluation of the program.

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 enable a user-based evaluation of submitted entries to the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Competition (L Prize[supreg]) competition. The L Prize competition was authorized to encourage development and deployment of highly energy efficient solid- state lighting products. The proposed collection will assist in evaluating the entries in a real-world environment to insure that winning products do not exhibit undesirable or poor qualities that are not identified from formal laboratory testing by the DOE. These undesirable attributes could be a hindrance to sales of the winning product and could negatively impact the energy reduction potential of the competition. Additionally, the DOE wishes to gauge program success by periodically obtaining quantitative data about the effectiveness of the promotions and campaigns which are directly tied to L Prize winners. The quantitative data will be a survey asking five qualitative questions about the occupant's overall satisfaction of the lights. The brief assessments will be collected by the site's partner sponsor and returned, along with the entrant lamps, to DOE at the conclusion of the field assessment.

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 Historic Preservation for Energy Efficiency Programs, OMB Control Number 1910-5155. The proposed collection will allow DOE to continue data collection on the status of Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program activities to ensure that recipients are compliant with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Programs with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) are required to undertake rigorous, objective peer review of their funded projects in order to ensure and enhance the management, relevance, effectiveness, and productivity of those projects. The 2012 Wind and Water Power Program, Wind Power Peer Review Meeting will review wind technology development and market acceleration and deployment projects from the Program's research and development portfolio. The 2012 Wind Power Peer Review Meeting will be held June 19 through June 21, 2012, in Alexandria, VA.

On April 2, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published the Sanyo E&E Corporation (Sanyo) petition for waiver from the residential refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure. Comments were required to be submitted by May 2, 2012. This document announces that the period for submitting comments on the Sanyo petition for waiver is re-opened until June 18, 2012.

A notice of availability and request for comments on a revised version of The Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals: Standard Work Specifications for Single Family Energy Upgrades was published in the Federal Register on March 29, 2012. 77 FR 19008. A number of commenters indicated that because of the extent of changes to the revised version from the version previously made publically available, additional time should be provided for review and comment. This notice reopens the comment period on the revised guidelines to provide additional opportunity for public review and comment.

This notice announces an open webinar 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 (Public Law No. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that agencies publish these notices in the Federal Register to allow for public participation.

This notice announces a live Board meeting 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 the BSH Corporation (BSH) petition for waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of dishwashers. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the dishwasher test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the BSH petition.

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 Better Buildings, Better Plants Program Voluntary Pledge Program, OMB Control Number 1910-5141. The proposed collection will be used to evaluate the success of the voluntary agreements made through the DOE's Better Buildings, Better Plants Program. The information to be collected from Partner plants includes: background data, including contact information, information on primary energy consumption and energy saving, high level descriptions of implemented energy projects, and annual and cumulative energy intensity progress. The results of the Better Buildings, Better Plants Voluntary Pledge Report will only be published in program evaluation and metrics documentation. Results will be published in aggregate to report the impact of the DOE program in a report that must be submitted to Congress in 2012 and 2017.

Pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and in accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 102-3.65, and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, and in accordance with the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1996 (NRA), and the Administrative Procedure Act, notice is hereby given that the ASRAC will be established for a two-year period. The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters concerning the DOE's Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program's (Program) test procedures and rulemaking process. Formation of this committee allows the Program to further improve the rulemaking process. The Committee provides advice and makes recommendations on the: (1) Development of minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment, (2) development of product test procedures, (3) certification and enforcement of standards, (4) labeling for various residential products and commercial equipment, and (5) specific issues of concern to DOE, as requested by the Secretary of Energy, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the Buildings Technologies Program Manager. Additionally, the establishment of the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee has been determined to be essential to the conduct of the Department's mission and to be in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed upon the Department of Energy by law and agreement. The Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and rules and regulations issued in implementation of that Act, the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1996 (NRA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). This notice also requests nominations for members on the Committee, to ensure a wide range of member candidates and a balanced committee.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Fujitsu General Limited (FUJITSU) petition for waiver and application for interim waiver (hereafter, ``petition'') from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps. Today's notice also grants an interim waiver of the commercial package air-source central air conditioners and heat pumps test procedure. Through this notice, DOE also solicits comments with respect to the FUJITSU petition.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc. (LG) 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 LG petition.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information for a National Evaluation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) 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 the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Information about the outcomes of the program, including energy and cost savings, the net number of jobs created or retained, and gross reductions in carbon emissions, is needed for a comprehensive evaluation of the program.