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

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.

This notice announces an interim determination by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) classifying CSA Group (CSA) as a nationally recognized certification program under 10 CFR 431.447 and 431.448.

The Wind Power Technologies Office within the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy intends to hold an External Merit Review in Arlington, VA, on March 24- 28, 2014. The External Review Panel will review current projects and provide feedback on technical/scientific/business merit, the actual or anticipated results, and the productivity and management effectiveness of projects. The review panel will also assess projects' potential impact on the wind power industry and identify additional research initiatives and resources that might be required in the future. The event is open to the public based upon space availability.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE/EERE 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 Atmosphere to Electrons (A2e) Initiative within the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy intends to hold an External Merit Review in Washington, DC, on February 4-5, 2014. The External Review Panel will review the current program planning and provide suggestion on the formulation of A2e strategy, goals and implementation approaches. The review panel will also assess the initiative's potential impact on the wind power industry and identify additional research initiatives and resources that might be required in the future.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted to the OMB for clearance, a proposal for collection of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection would be used to measure the impact and progress of DOE's Workplace Charging Challenge (Challenge). The Challenge is an initiative through which DOE provides employers with specialized resources, expertise, and support to incorporate workplace charging programs into their operations successfully.\1\ The initiative is a part of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, which focuses on enabling U.S. vehicle manufacturers to be the first in the world to produce plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) that are as affordable and convenient for the average American family as today's gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022. As the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge is focused on PEV research and development as well as deployment, it has been developed with input from sustainability professionals, industry representatives, and DOE's Clean Cities program staff coordinators.

This notice announces receipt of petitions for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) seeking an exemption from specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. Samsung asks that it be permitted to use an alternate test procedure that is intended to address difficulties in testing dual compressor systems using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petitions and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice. The waiver request pertains to the basic models set forth in Samsung's petitions that incorporate dual compressors.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CD-009) that grants to Indesit Company (Indesit) a waiver from the DOE clothes dryer test procedure. The waiver pertains to the models of condensing residential clothes dryer specified in Indesit's petition. Condensing clothes dryers cannot be tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Under today's decision and order, Indesit shall not be required to test and rate its specified models of residential condensing clothes dryer pursuant to the current test procedure.

The U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CR-003) that grants to Hussmann Corporation (Hussmann) a waiver from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of its commercial freezers for the basic models set forth in its petition for waiver (petition). Hussmann claims in its petition that the specified basic models cannot be tested in accordance with the DOE test procedure for commercial refrigeration equipment because the equipment cannot operate at the specified integrated average product temperature of 0 [deg]F 2 [deg]F. Under today's decision and order, Hussmann shall be required to test and rate the commercial freezers specified in the petition at their lowest integrated average temperature of 8 2 [deg]F, which DOE confirmed is the lowest temperature at which those models can operate and which is consistent with the lowest application product temperature provision in the DOE test procedure.

This notice announces a final determination by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) classifying UL Verification Services (UL) as a nationally recognized certification program under 10 CFR 431.447 and 431.448.

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 be used to report the progress of participants in the DOE Better Buildings programs, including the Better Buildings Challenge, Better Buildings, Better Plants program, and the Better Buildings Alliance. These voluntary programs are intended to drive greater energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial marketplace to create cost savings and jobs. This will be accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers and persistent obstacles with replicable, marketplace solutions. These programs will showcase real solutions and partner with industry leaders to better understand policy and technical opportunities. Since the published 60-Day Notice and request for comments on April 11, 2013, Vol. 78, No. 70, page 21602, there are noted changes to the following supplemental information items: (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses are reduced from 3,178 to 2,333; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours are reduced from 5,077 to 4,651.89; and (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden is reduced from$194,926 to $183,610.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of its decision and order (Case No. RF-031) granting Panasonic Appliances Refrigeration Systems Corporation of America (PAPRSA) 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, PAPRSA shall be required to test and rate its hybrid wine chiller/beverage center basic models using an alternate test procedure that requires PAPRSA to test the wine chiller compartment at 55 [deg]F instead of the prescribed temperature of 38 [deg]F. PAPRSA shall also use the K factor (correction factor) value of 0.85 when calculating the energy consumption.

This notice announces receipt of a petition for waiver from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (Samsung) regarding specified portions of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for determining the energy consumption of electric refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers. In its petition, Samsung provides an alternate test procedure that is the same as the test procedure DOE published in a final rule setting out testing requirements for manufacturers to follow starting in 2014. DOE solicits comments, data, and information concerning Samsung's petition and the suggested alternate test procedure. Today's notice also grants Samsung an interim waiver from the electric refrigerator and refrigerator-freezer test procedure, subject to use of the alternative test procedure set forth in this notice.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of the decision and order (Case No. CD-007) that grants to BSH Home Appliances Corporation (BSH) a waiver from the DOE clothes dryer test procedure. The waiver pertains to the models of condensing residential clothes dryer specified in BSH's petition. Condensing clothes dryers cannot be tested using the currently applicable DOE test procedure. Under today's decision and order, BSH shall not be required to test and rate its specified models of residential condensing clothes dryer pursuant to the current test procedure.

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) 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 small-horsepower (HP) vertical hollow shaft (VHS) electric motors (less than 40 HP) to be utilized in Recovery Act projects funded by EERE.

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) Energy-efficient impeller (N-impeller) to retrofit existing Flygt pumps, and (2) Expansion Module Assembly to repair existing Johnson Controls Lab and Hood Fume Interface with Phoenix Controls Hood (where utilization of an American made module assembly would require replacement of the existing system).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hereby granting an Amended Waiver of section 1605 of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act Buy American provisions) in EERE- funded projects for LED tube lights to replace T8/other 4 foot fluorescents.