DOE Requests Expedited Process for Energy Efficiency Standards
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently sent legislation to Congress requesting authorization that would speed up the process to establish energy efficiency standards and bring more efficient products to market faster.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recently sent legislation to Congress requesting authorization that would speed up the process to establish energy efficiency standards and bring more efficient products to market faster.
The proposed legislation requests authority to use a more streamlined rulemaking process for certain products when a clear consensus for a standard exists. DOE would be able to prescribe energy efficiency standards by direct final rule when all relevant interests jointly negotiate and submit an agreed proposed standard, according to
DOE’s Web site.Use of the proposed expedited rulemaking authority would be limited to circumstances in which, in response to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, representatives of relevant interests including manufacturers, efficiency advocates, and state officials, negotiate on their own initiative and submit a joint comment to DOE proposing an energy conservation standard for a product.
If the Secretary determines that the jointly proposed standard meets the substantive requirements of the law for that product, he would be authorized to publish a notice of direct final rulemaking, incorporating the recommended standard. If there is no objection to the standard, the direct final rule would become effective 120 days after the notice is published.
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