The Washington Word

IEA: Energy Efficiency Can Slash GHG Emissions - But Political Will is Weakening

Business Green

Oct. 24, 2018

A global energy efficiency drive could single-handedly deliver a sustained fall in greenhouse gas emissions even as the world's economy doubles between now and 2040.

That is the scenario outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a major new report this month, which calculates that cost-effective energy efficiency measures could slash consumer bills to the tune of $500b billion a year.

But there is a major and familiar barrier to this scenario being realized: It rests on global governments rapidly deploying effective energy efficiency policies across buildings and road transport, and currently global policy action is in fact weakening, according to the agency' s report . More....

America Made Strong Gains With Clean Energy, Efficiency, and Carbon Cuts but Faces Climate "Crossroads"

NRDC

October 24, 2018

The United States is light years ahead of 10-year government projections for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon pollution cuts but must greatly accelerate clean energy progress to help avert climate disaster, according to a major new report today from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Less than three weeks after the urgent warning from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the world may have as few as 12 years to stave off the worst of climate change, America’s Climate Crossroads: Pushing Clean Energy Higher & Faster notes the nation made huge clean energy strides in the past year and a half and far outpaced the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2007 predictions for 2017 energy use. However, the country is not yet on track to meet the IPCC’s climate targets. More.. .

Asbestos Imports Surge as Trump White House Moves to Keep Deadly Carcinogen Legal

Environmental Working Group

Oct. 23, 2018

Asbestos imports to the U.S. soared by nearly 2,000 percent between July and August, according to federal import data analyzed by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and Environmental Working Group.

According to the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce, in August alone, the U.S. imported 272 metric tons of asbestos, compared to 13 metric tons in July.

The striking increase is a major indicator that industry is not concerned about President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking any steps to ban or even reduce the use and import of asbestos. More...

Five Category 4+ tropical cyclones have struck U.S. soil in 14 months. This is probably without precedent.

Washington Post

Oct. 25, 2018

Category 5 Super Typhoon Yutu, which decimated the Northern Marianas , is the latest in a string of behemoth storms to directly strike U.S. soil since August 2017. The United States or U.S. territories have been hit by five Category 4 or stronger tropical cyclones in the past 14 months. This is probably without precedent.

Brian McNoldy, a tropical-weather researcher at the University of Miami who examined historical data, could not find more than two Category 4 or stronger storms that previously hit the United States over a two-year period.

Category 4 and 5 storms are the most violent class of hurricanes, packing winds of at least 130 mph, and are notorious for their destructive force and, often, high death tolls. More...

Last Chance to Tell EPA to Stop Its Dirty Energy Plan!

The Coalition for a Sustainable Built Environment has launched a campaign to oppose the EPA’s proposed Affordable Clean Energy rule that critics say will undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the environment.

The building industry letter states that, “Abandoning commitments to reduce fossil fuel generation will make it much more difficult for the building sector to continue reducing GHG emissions. Worse, by attempting to reduce the cost of fossil fuel at the expense of renewable sources like wind and solar, the ACE creates powerful financial disincentives for the economy to move towards cleaner forms of energy.”

The letter is open until October 30 ; the EPA is accepting comments on its proposal until Oct. 31. To sign the letter, click here.

NEW IN CONGRESS

S.3021: America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018

Sponsor: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Latest Action: Became Public Law No 115-270 (Oct. 23, 2018)

AGENCY ACTION

Notice of Petition for Rulemaking and Request for Information Pertaining to Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters

Energy Dept.

Oct. 25, 2018

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication notice of petition for rulemaking and request for information pertaining to the petition received on October 18, 2018 from the American Public Gas Association (APGA), Spire, Inc., the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), the American Gas Association (AGA), and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), collectively referred to as the “Gas Industry Petitioners,” asking DOE to: issue an interpretive rule stating that DOE’s proposed energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters would result in the unavailability of “performance characteristics” within the meaning of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 and withdraw the proposed energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and commercial water heaters based upon such findings.

Through this notice, DOE seeks comment on the petition, as well as any data or information that could be used in DOE’s determination whether to proceed with the petition.

DOE requests and will accept comments, data, and information in response to the NOPR RFI until 90 days after the notice publishes in the Federal Register. DOE will send a follow-up e-mail once the notice publishes to announce the closing date of the comment period.
Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments, identified by "Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heaters" using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2018-BT-STD-0018, by Email (ResFurnaceCommWaterHeater2018STD0018@ee.doe.gov), postal mail, or hand delivery/courier.
DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including topics not raised in this request for information).

Find product information for Residential Furnaces and Commercial Water Heating Equipment that are the subje ct of the RFI including current standards and test procedures; statutory authority; waivers, exceptions and contact information.

Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group Public Meeting

Dept. of Energy

Oct. 22, 2018

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) will be canceling its next round of public meetings for the Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps working group on November 1-2, 2018. The next round of meetings will be held on November 15th-16th, 2018.

Thursday, November 15, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Federal Mediation & Conciliation Services, Room 7008, 250 E St SW, Washington, DC 20427.
Friday, November 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Federal Mediation & Conciliation Services, Room 7008, 250 E St SW, Washington, DC 20427.

If you plan on attending the meeting in person please register by sending your name and company information via email to ASRAC@ee.doe.gov . In addition, you can attend the public meeting via webinar. To register for the webinar please visit the VRF Working Group page.