Legislation + Regulation

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to notify interested parties of DOE’s intent to immediately commence on-the-record hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in civil penalty cases for violations of DOE’s conservation standards and certification requirements. This NOI also provides procedural details that will govern these hearings.

Both houses of Congress have passed The BRIGHT Act to ensure federal buildings utilize energy-efficient lighting. The House passed the bill on September 14, 2022, and the Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2022. The bill still requires the signature of President Biden before it becomes law.

On September 18, 2022, California banned fluorescent lamps, both CFLs and linear fluorescent lamps, joining Vermont’s ban in May, and the EU’s ban in December. California went beyond Vermont’s ban on 4’ lamps, by banning linear fluorescent tubes up to 8’ long.I chased down the legislative details for you.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 was signed into law on August 16, 2022. Among the provisions included in this bill is the expansion of the Section 179D tax deduction for building energy efficiency. Thousands of commercial building owners have utilized the 179D tax deduction since its inception in 2005, and this expansion potentially allows for many more to not only utilize the deduction but also claim larger amounts than previously available.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its “Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap” a comprehensive report identifying four key pathways to reduce industrial emissions in American manufacturing, on September 7, 2022.

In October, 2021, the GSA published updated rules for the construction and renovation of federal buildings (excluding military buildings). The “P100” is a 316-page document outlining construction and renovation guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Federal Register Final Rule adopting amendments to the test procedures for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs), incandescent reflector lamps (IRLs), and general service incandescent lamps.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published a Federal Register notice amending the test procedures for ceiling fans.

Last week, President Biden signed the $750 Billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The new law addresses inflation, climate, energy, prescription drug policy, and corporate tax changes. Roughly $370 Billion are focused on combatting climate change, including energy generation and transmission, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and environmental justice.