Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a public workshop for interested parties to learn about recent results from DOE's materials-based hydrogen storage system modeling efforts. In addition, DOE intends to gather input from workshop participants to identify hydrogen storage material development pathways and potential future areas of research. This input will be used to help guide future activities for the DOE Hydrogen Storage Program.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requests proposals to participate in the 2016 Collegiate Wind Competition (Competition), which is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). DOE anticipates the award of ten (10) firm fixed price subcontracts under this solicitation. The anticipated period of performance is through July 31, 2016, with a funding availability of $20,000 for each award. The Competition is open to teams of undergraduate students from two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today gives notice of a request for public comment, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on the continued collection of information entitled: Budget Justification, which DOE has developed for submission to and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the continued collection of such budget justification 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), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) number DE-FOA-0001187 regarding feedback on the summary report for the Hydrogen Transmission and Distribution Workshop held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in February, 2014. The RFI document is posted at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to hydrogen transmission and distribution pathways, specifically with respect to the Hydrogen Transmission and Distribution Workshop Report. EERE is interested both in information on the current status of transmission and distribution pathways, technologies and their potential to meet DOE cost goals as well as feedback on the content of the report, including the key R&D needs as determined by the participants. EERE is also interested in the community's opinion of the metrics and protocols for the given pathways that would most effectively aid in the determination of a technology's potential to deliver low cost hydrogen that meets DOE goals. This is solely a Request for Information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications at this time.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a second version of its draft Guidance for EPAct 2005 Section 242 Program. The guidance describes how DOE intends to provide incentive payments to the owners or operators of qualified hydroelectric facilities for electric energy generated and sold for a specified 10- year period as authorized under section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today gives notice of a workshop hosted by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) to discuss the current state of technology and efforts needed to achieve affordable, scalable, and sustainable drop-in hydrocarbon biofuels derived from waste feedstocks.

The Department of Energy (DOE) announces for public comment the availability of the draft document titled ``Transaction-Based Building Controls Framework, Volume 1: Reference Guide''.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has preliminarily determined that the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) would improve energy efficiency in buildings subject to the code compared to the 2012 edition. DOE analysis indicates that buildings meeting the 2015 IECC (as compared with buildings meeting the 2012 IECC) would result in national source energy savings of approximately 1.03 percent, site energy savings of approximately 1.12 percent, and energy cost savings of approximately 0.90 percent of residential building energy consumption, as regulated by the IECC. If this determination is finalized, each State would be required by statute to certify that it has reviewed the provisions of its residential building code regarding energy efficiency, and made a determination as to whether to update their code to meet or exceed the 2015 IECC. Additionally, this notice provides guidance to States on these processes and associated certifications.

The Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision to suspend, effective September 18th, 2014, competition rules for the SunShot Prize: Race to the Rooftop in order to broaden the scope of participation and better align competition rules with SunShot goals given that the U.S. solar market has already realized 60% of the SunShot price targets for 2020. Building on this success, DOE will continue to target aggressive scenarios for reducing costs and increasing access to solar technologies for American consumers. DOE intends to release an updated draft rules document of the SunShot Prize program no later than the end of this calendar year and remains committed to accelerating market innovation using a balanced program portfolio of funding opportunities, initiatives, and prize challenges.

This notice announces receipt and publication of a petition for waiver submitted by the Sub-Zero Group, Inc. from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. Sub-Zero's request pertains to the specific hybrid refrigerated ``storage-wine storage'' basic models set forth in its petition. Sub-Zero seeks permission to use an alternate test procedure to test the wine chiller compartment of these devices at 55[emsp14][deg]F instead of the prescribed temperature of 39[emsp14][deg]F. That procedure would apply a K factor (correction factor) value of 0.85 when calculating the energy consumption of a tested model and replace the energy consumption calculation currently required under 10 CFR Part 430, Appendix A. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Sub-Zero's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Sub-Zero with an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today gives notice of a request for information on photovoltaic reliability and durability research and development. Photovoltaic modules are exposed to severe operating conditions involving temperature, thermal cycling, UV radiation, humidity, environmental weathering and soiling, electrical and other stresses. It is necessary to address the risk and uncertainty in photovoltaic performance due to these conditions in order to enable greater investor confidence, which ultimately can lead to lower financing costs and greater volume of installations. The DOE SunShot Program therefore requests information to determine fruitful areas of research and development that could lead to improved reliability and durability of photovoltaic modules, with the purpose of creating increased appetite for photovoltaic projects for investors, developers, integrators, and utilities. The RFI document is posted at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) regarding Landscape Design for Sustainable Bioenergy Systems. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from bioenergy stakeholders on landscape design approaches that integrate cellulosic bioenergy feedstock production into existing agricultural and forestry systems while maintaining or enhancing environmental and socio- economic sustainability including ecosystem services and food, feed, and fiber production.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) to help inform DOE's research and development activities related to Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems.

DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Program on behalf of the interagency Biomass Research and Development (R&D) Board today announces an open meeting and call for information to solicit information and viewpoints from interested parties on the challenges and opportunities of expanding the bioeconomy. This notice is being published less than 15 days prior to the meeting date due to logistical issues that had to be resolved prior to the meeting date.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its Request for Information (RFI) number DE-FOA-0001145 regarding Fuel Cells for Continuous On-Board Recharging Application for Battery Electric Light-Duty Vehicles. The RFI document is posted at https:// eere-exchange.energy.gov/. The RFI solicits feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to the technical and economic feasibility of commercializing fuel cell range extenders for available battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the United States market. The Department of Energy is specifically interested in information on BEV makes and models where an after-market modification to extend the vehicle range using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system would be most feasible. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting FOA applications on this topic.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) 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 provide DOE with the information necessary to meet its statutory and regulatory obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the DOE NEPA implementing regulations, which requires EERE to perform environmental impact analyses prior to making a decision to provide Federal funding for research, development and demonstration projects funded by DOE.

The Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the availability of the SunShot Catalyst Program prize competition rules. The Program is a series of prize-based contests designed to incentivize the public to address time-sensitive market problems in solar. The Program consists of four steps (Ideation, Business Innovation, Prototyping, and Incubation) with value awarded to all winning contestants totaling $1,000,000, which includes approximately $500,000 in cash prizes.

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.

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.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. RF-037) that grants Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) with a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure to address the difficulties in testing dual compressor systems using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure that takes dual compressors into account when measuring energy consumption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order in Case No. RF-036 grants Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) with a waiver from the DOE electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedures for specific basic models set forth in its petition for waiver. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is identical to the test procedure DOE published in a final rule dated January 25, 2012 (77 FR 3559) that manufacturers will be required to use starting in 2014. Under today's decision and order, Samsung shall be required to test and rate these refrigerator-freezers using an alternate test procedure as adopted in that January 2012 final rule, which accounts for multiple defrost cycles when measuring energy consumption.

This notice announces receipt of and publishes the Empire Comfort Systems Inc. (Empire) petition for waiver 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 Empire's specified models of condensing-type vented heaters. The existing test procedure does not apply to condensing heaters. Empire asks that it be permitted to use the DOE test procedure proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for Direct Heating Equipment and Pool Heaters published in the Federal Register on October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63410), as an alternate test procedure to account for the energy consumption of its condensing-type direct heating equipment (DHE) models. DOE notes that only one of the basic model numbers submitted in the petition is a covered product subject to the test methods for vented home heating equipment. Today's notice also grants Empire an interim waiver from the DOE test procedure applicable to direct heating equipment for the one basic model number properly included in the petition, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Empire's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on an extension of a currently approved 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. 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 Weatherization Assistance Program, OMB Control Number 1910-5157. The proposed collection will collect information on the status of grantee activities, expenditures, and results, to ensure that program funds are being used appropriately, effectively and expeditiously. A sixty day Notice and Request for Comments was published on January 6, 2014 at 79 FR 649. No comments were received to that notice. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the currently approved 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 pertaining to the approved collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to further enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected; and (d) ways to further minimize the burden regarding the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In this notice, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2014 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today announces an open meeting hosted by its Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) on the topic of algae-based biofuels research and development, titled the Algal Biofuels Strategy Workshop.