I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1326
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2021
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To strengthen the Department of Energy’s appliance energy efficiency standards program and promote further energy efficiency gains, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Energy Efficient Appliances Act
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Repeals
Procedures for use in new or revised energy conservation standards and test procedures
The final rule titled Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Procedures for Use in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Commercial/Industrial Equipment
(published at 85 Fed. Reg. 8626 (February 14, 2020)) shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as if such rule had never been issued.
Procedures for evaluating statutory factors
The final rule titled Energy Conservation Program for Appliance Standards: Procedures for Evaluating Statutory Factors for Use in New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards
(published at 85 Fed. Reg. 50937 (August 19, 2020)) shall have no force or effect and shall be treated as if such rule had never been issued.
Multiple metrics
Section 321(6) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291(6)) is amended to read as follows:
Energy conservation standard
In general
The term energy conservation standard means, with respect to a product, 1 or more performance standards that prescribe—
a minimum level of energy efficiency or a maximum quantity of energy use, determined in accordance with test procedures prescribed under section 323;
a minimum level of water efficiency or a maximum quantity of water use, determined in accordance with test procedures prescribed under section 323; or
both (i) and (ii).
Inclusions
The term energy conservation standard includes—
1 or more design requirements; and
any other requirements that the Secretary may prescribe under section 325(r).
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Expanding the pool of covered products
Lowering energy threshold levels for consumer products
Special classification of consumer product
Section 322(b)(1)(B) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6292(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking exceed 100
and inserting exceed 75
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Standards for Other Covered Products
Section 325(l)(1)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(1)(A)) is amended by striking exceeded 150
and inserting exceeded 75
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Industrial equipment
Section 340(2)(B) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6311(2)(B)) is amended—
in clause (xii), by striking and
; and
by striking clause (xiii) and inserting the following:
other motors; and
other types of equipment for which the Secretary determines that—
classifying equipment of such type as industrial equipment is necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this part; and
average annual energy use by equipment of such type nationwide is likely to exceed 3,000,000,000 kilowatt-hours (or its Btu equivalent) per year.
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Reducing lead times
Standards for Other Covered Products
Section 325(l)(2) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
Applicability
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any new or amended standard for covered products of a type specified in paragraph (20) of section 322(a) shall apply to products manufactured after the date that is 3 years after the publication of the final rule establishing such standard.
Other applicability
The Secretary may, in prescribing a new or amended standard for covered products of a type specified in paragraph (20) of section 322(a), require that such standard apply to products manufactured not earlier than 1 year after publication of the final rule establishing such standard and not later than 3 years after such publication.
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Products receiving updated rules
Amended standards
Paragraph (4) of section 325(m) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(m)(4)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A)—
the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and subparagraph (C)
after subparagraph (B)
; and
in clause (ii), by striking 5 years
and inserting 3 years
; and
by adding at the end the following subparagraph:
Other applicability
The Secretary may, in prescribing an amended standard under this subsection, require that such amended standard apply to products manufactured not earlier than 1 year after publication of the final rule establishing such amended standard and not later than 3 years after such publication.
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Amended standards resulting from petition
Paragraph (5) of section 325(n) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295(n)) is amended to read as follows:
Applicability
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an amended standard prescribed under this subsection shall apply to products manufactured after the date that is 3 years after the publication of the final rule establishing the amended standard.
Other applicability
The Secretary may, in prescribing an amended standard under this subsection, require that such amended standard apply to products manufactured not earlier than 1 year after publication of the final rule establishing such amended standard and not later than 3 years after such publication.
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Authorization for multiple standards under one rulemaking
Section 325(o) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6295) is amended—
by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
by adding after paragraph (5) the following:
Multiple standards
Notwithstanding subsection (m)(4)(B), in any rulemaking to prescribe a new or amended energy conservation standard for a covered product, or class of covered products, the Secretary may prescribe more than one such standard for such covered product, or class of covered products, provided—
the less stringent standard prescribed shall apply to any such covered product, or class of covered products, manufactured not earlier than 1 year after publication of the final rule prescribing such standards and not later than 3 years after such publication; and
the more stringent standard prescribed shall apply to any such covered product, or class of covered products, manufactured not later than 6 years after such publication.
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Exemption from preemption
Removing barriers to efficiency
In general
Section 327 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6297) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Suspension of preemption
A State regulation concerning the energy efficiency, energy use, or water use of a covered product that would otherwise be superseded by the provisions of this part in accordance with this section shall not be superseded during any period that—
begins on the date that is 8 years after the date on which an energy conservation standard is established or revised under section 325 for the covered product; and
ends on the date that compliance with an energy conservation standard that is established or revised under section 325 and that is equivalent to or more stringent than the State regulation is required.
No preemption absent a Federal standard
Application
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a State regulation concerning the energy efficiency, energy use, or water use of a covered product is not superseded by the provisions of this part if the State applies to any product not subject to an energy conservation standard established under section 325.
Compliance period
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, any State regulation prescribed or enacted for a covered product before the date on which an energy conservation standard is established under section 325 for the covered product shall not be preempted until the date on which compliance with an energy conservation standard that is established under section 325 and that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, the requirements of the State is required.
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ASHRAE Products
Section 345(b)(2) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6316(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a standard prescribed or established under section 342(a) shall not supersede any State or local regulation concerning the energy efficiency or energy use of a product for which the standard is prescribed or established during any period that—
begins on the date that is 8 years after the date on which such standard is prescribed or established; and
ends on the effective date of a standard prescribed or established after the date described in clause (i) under section 342(a) for the product, that is equivalent to, or more stringent than, the State or local regulation.
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Building codes
In general
Section 327(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6297(f)) is amended to read as follows:
Exception for certain building code requirements
In general
A regulation or other requirement that is contained in a State or local building code for new construction concerning the energy efficiency or energy use of a covered product is not superseded by this part if the regulation or other requirement concerning the energy efficiency or energy use of the covered product is more stringent than the corresponding Federal energy conservation standard.
New construction
For purposes of this subsection, the term new construction includes—
new buildings and their systems; and
new portions of buildings and their systems.
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Conforming amendments
Section 327 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6297) is amended—
in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (3); and
in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (3).
ASHRAE products
Section 345(b)(2)(B) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6316(b)(2)(B)) is amended by striking new construction
and all that follows through the end and inserting new construction.
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