The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the American Lighting Association (ALA) yesterday ended their legal challenge to the California Energy Commission’s Nov. 13 decision to expand its lamp energy standards. NEMA’s announcement came after reviewing the decision of the federal district court in Sacramento denying the application for a temporary restraining order without prejudice to pursue a motion for a preliminary injunction.
Legislation + Regulation
DOE Announces Final Determination on Incandescent Lamp Energy Standards
The Department of Energy has confirmed its September 5, 2019 determination that existing energy standards for general-service incandescent lamps do not need to be amended, citing these amendments are not economically justified.
Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction Extended to 2018-2020
On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law HR1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (2020), which contained an extension to the Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction (179D).
Lighting Industry Sues to Block California’s Jan. 1 Expanded Lamp Efficiency Standards; Court Refuses Restraining Order
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the American Lighting Association are suing California to block the state’s updated lamp efficiency standards from going into effect on January 1, 2020. Today, a federal court denied a temporary restraining order.
Consumer Group Values Lost Energy Savings Due to DOE Rule-Making on General-Service Lamps
The Consumer Federation of America recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Energy on its Proposed Determination that finds that new lighting efficiency standards are not needed and that essentially rolls back efficiency levels of general-service incandescent lamps. According to CFA, DOE’s justification for its rulemaking is riddled with factual errors and based on flawed assumptions and methodology, and will cost consumers more than $80 billion in lost energy savings over 30 years.
NRDC Sues DOE Over Lighting Standards Rollback
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently announced it has joined other environmental and consumer advocacy groups in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Energy’s rollback of energy-saving standards for general-service lamps currently in service in about half of the conventional sockets in the United States.
The President Criticizes Energy-Efficient Lighting
President Trump’s recent remarks about current energy-efficient lighting technology were inaccurate and outdated.
DOE Rolls Back Regulatory Definition of General-Service Lamps, Issues No Change to Incandescent Energy Standards, Says Backstop Provision Not Automatically Triggered
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently issued two new regulatory rules related to general-service lamps (incandescent/halogen, compact fluorescent, LED) and general service incandescent lamps.
What Does Brexit Mean for Lighting Designers?
After more than two years of negotiations, the UK government has yet to ratify a Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union, raising the probability of either a “no deal Brexit” or no withdrawal at all. Because lighting designers often work outside their own countries, a Withdrawal Agreement or no-deal Brexit could have big impacts on their business. The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) recently tackled this complex subject with a blog post outlining the key issues.
States Enact Their Own Lighting Standards
Several states are responding to the Trump Administration’s proposed revision to general-service lamp energy standards by enacting their own.
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