Oct. 31, 2018
A group of building industry companies and organizations has come out against the EPA's proposal to rescind the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and with a proposal they say is worse for the environment.
The group's
letter
, submitted on Oct. 31, states that "Our industry has made incredible strides in making the buildings we use consume less energy and emit lower amounts of GHGs. Strategies to reduce the GHG footprint of buildings rest on four legs: passive design, energy load reduction, energy efficiencies, and renewable energy. By allowing states to let utilities to extend the life of coal-fired power plants, the ACE proposal kicks one of those legs away."
The EPA proposal, dubbed the "Affordable Clean Energy (ACE)" plan, would give states wide latitude to write their own regulations for coal plants. It would rescind the 2015 Clean Power Plan, which would have accelerated a shift away from coal use and toward less-polluting sources such as natural gas, wind and solar. That plan was the centerpiece of former President Obama’s pledge for the U.S. to cut carbon dioxide emissions as part of the Paris climate agreement, which President Trump has said he plans to exit.
The building industry letter concludes 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.”
Nov. 1, 2018
If Democrats retake the House on Election Day, DOE could see a renewed focus on energy efficiency, E&E News reports.
A Democratic-controlled House would likely write legislation with much higher numbers for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The Trump administration proposed slashing that office by about 70 percent the past two budget cycles. House appropriations legislation would have cut it by about 9 percent and came in at much lower numbers than the Senate, to the protest of Democrats.
The appropriations process could change the dynamic for other issues, as well, in that committee chairs could use it as a lever to push on priorities. Democrats, for instance, have been publicly angry about DOE failing to meet congressional deadlines for multiple efficiency standards.
On Nov. 1, Ranking Energy and Commerce Democrat Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Reps. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) sent a
letter
to Energy Secretary Perry demanding information on the number of efficiency standards that have missed statutory deadlines. They requested all communications between companies and DOE career employees on the issue, and also expressed concern that the Trump administration may move soon to roll back light bulb standards, considering a rule under review by the White House.
"We are deeply concerned that DOE's failure to fulfill its statutory responsibilities under the [Appliance and Equipment Standards Program] will result in significantly higher costs for consumers, while also increasing greenhouse gas emissions," Pallone, Rush and DeGette wrote.
More...
Washington Post
Oct. 30, 2018
Even if Democrats -- currently entirely out of power in Washington -- win back control of the House next week, little will change when it comes to federal energy policy.
President Trump will still reside in the White House. His deputies across the federal government will pursue policies promoting the growth of the fossil-fuel sector and ignoring the buildup of climate-warming gases in the atmosphere.
But in the states things may be different for Democrats. Voters across the western United States will be voting on progressive ballot measures poised to stymie the use of coal, oil and natural gas, and bolster solar and wind energy.
More...
Consumer Reports
Oct. 29, 2018
Given the option, most Americans would like to choose their own utility company. They’d also like more of the energy that powers their homes to come from renewable sources such as solar and wind. That’s the result of a recent national survey conducted by Consumer Reports to gauge consumers’ attitudes toward their utility companies.
More...
Science Daily
Oct. 30, 2018
Scientists at Indiana University found high levels of a previously unsuspected pollutant in homes, in an electronic waste recycling facility and in the natural environment.
The chemical, tri(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphate or TDTBPP, is part of a family of organophosphates that are known to be toxic. However, little information is known about the toxicity of TDTBPP or how it gets into our environment. The chemical may be used as a flame retardant or as a plasticizer in consumer products. It may also be formed as other chemicals degrade.
Many common commercial chemicals, including TDTBPP, are not subject to regulatory scrutiny under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (YSCA) unless they are used for new purposes, and much of the information about their commercial use is private. Therefore, it is difficult for environmental chemists to track how these pollutants enter the environment and what kind of effects they might cause once they do. Many chemicals go undetected until scientists perform a general environmental scan, like this study conducted by scientists at IU.
More...
AGENCY ACTION
Notice of Petition for Rulemaking and Request for Comment Pertaining to Test Procedures for Consumer Warm Air Furnaces
Energy Dept.
Nov. 2, 2018
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a
pre-publication
notice of petition for rulemaking and request for comment pertaining to the petition received on October 12, 2018 from Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) asking DOE to initiate notice-and-comment rulemaking to develop a new, unified test procedure for consumer furnaces which would replace the three currently required performance metrics with a single new metric. 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 until 60 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 "Test Procedure for Consumer Warm Air Furnaces Petition" using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2018-BT-PET-0017, by Email (ResFurnPet2018PET0017@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
Consumer Furnaces
and
Furnace Fans
that are the subject of the NOPR including current standards and test procedures; statutory authority; waivers, exceptions and contact information.
E
PA
Nov. 1, 2018
EPA is proposing to amend the regulations promulgated in a final rule that published in the
Federal Register
on December 12, 2016, concerning formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products. EPA is publishing these proposed amendments to address certain technical issues and to further align the final rule requirements with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCM) Phase II program. Addressing these technical issues would add clarity for regulated entities. These revisions to the existing rule would also streamline compliance programs and help to ensure continued smooth transitions for supply chains to comply with the requirements associated with regulated composite wood products.
International Trade Administration
Nov. 1, 2018
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC) will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at the U.S. Department of Commerce Herbert C. Hoover Building (Rm. 1894, Commerce Research Library) in Washington, DC. The meeting is open to the public with registration instructions provided in the notice.
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