Jan 11 -- The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), directs the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to initiate two rulemaking cycles for general service lamps (GSLs) that, among other requirements, determine whether standards in effect for GSLs should be amended. EPCA also requires DOE to periodically determine whether more-stringent, standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), DOE proposes amended standards for GSLs pursuant to its statutory authority in EPCA, and also announces a webinar to receive comments on its proposal and associated analyses and results. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR no later than March 27, 2023.
EPCA requires the Attorney General to provide DOE a written determination of whether the proposed standard is likely to lessen competition. The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division invites input from market participants and other interested persons with views on the likely competitive impact of the proposed standard. Comments regarding the likely competitive impact of the proposed standard should be sent to the Department of Justice on or before February 10, 2023.
DOE has tentatively concluded that the proposed standards represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy. With regards to technological feasibility, products achieving these standard levels are already commercially available for all product classes covered by this proposal.
As for economic justification, DOE's analysis shows that the benefits of the proposed standard exceed, to a great extent, the burdens of the proposed standards. Using a 7-percent discount rate for consumer benefits and costs and NOX and SO2 reduction benefits, and a 3-percent discount rate case for GHG social costs, the estimated cost of the proposed standards for GSLs is $289.4 million per year in increased product costs, while the estimated annual benefits are $1.17 billion in reduced product operating costs, $358.1 million in climate benefits, and $432.0 million in health benefits. The net benefit amounts to $1.67 billion per year.
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https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-28072 [82 pages]
