[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51423-51428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20563]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 161 / Friday, August 20, 2010 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 51423]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 431
[Docket No (EERE-2010-BT-NOA-0028)]
RIN 1904-AC24
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Public Meeting and Availability of
Statement of Policy for Adopting Full-Fuel-Cycle Analyses Into Energy
Conservation Standards Program
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed policy and public meeting.
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SUMMARY: In its effort to adopt several National Academy of Sciences
(the Academy) recommendations, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
proposes to modify the methods it uses to estimate the likely impacts
of energy conservation standards for covered products and covered
equipment on energy use and emissions and to expand the energy use and
emissions information made available to consumers. Specifically, DOE
proposes to use full-fuel-cycle (FFC) measures of energy and greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, rather than the primary energy measures it
currently uses. Additionally, DOE proposes to work collaboratively with
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make FFC energy and GHG emissions
data available to the public to enable consumers to make cross-class
comparisons. DOE will hold an informal public meeting to discuss and
receive comments on its planned approach. DOE welcomes written comments
from the public on any subject within the scope of this policy
document.
DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 7, 2010,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. DOE must receive requests to
speak at the public meeting before 4 p.m., Thursday, September 23,
2010. DOE must receive an electronic copy of the statement with the
name and, if appropriate, the organization of the presenter to be given
at the public meeting before 4 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2010. DOE
will accept written comments, data, and information regarding this
announcement before and after the public meeting, but no later than
October 19, 2010.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-245, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals planning
to participate in the public meeting are subject to advance security
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the
necessary procedures can be completed.
Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments by e-mail to
the following address: [email protected]. Include docket
number EERE-2010-BT-NOA-0028 and/or RIN 1904-AC24] in the subject line
of the message. DOE encourages all written comments, data, and
information to be submitted electronically in commonly used searchable
text formats (e.g. Adobe Acrobat PDF, Microsoft Word, etc). All
comments should clearly identify the name, address and, if appropriate,
organization of the commenter.
Alternatively, interested parties may submit comments by any of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, Notice of Proposed
Policy for Full-Fuel-Cycle Analysis Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-NOA-0028
and/or RIN 1904-AC24, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Due to the potential delays in DOE's receipt and processing
of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, DOE encourages
respondents to submit comments electronically to ensure timely receipt.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 L'Enfant
Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, visit the U.S. Department of Energy, Resource Room
of the Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 6th
Floor, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 586-2945, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Please call Ms. Brenda
Edwards at the above telephone number for additional information
regarding visiting the Resource Room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Anthoney Perkins, U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-1846. E-mail:
[email protected].
Ms. Ami Grace-Tardy, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the
General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-5709. E-mail: [email protected].
For information on how to submit or review public comments, contact
Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program, EE-2J,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone
(202) 586-2945. E-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
DOE's energy conservation program for consumer products and certain
commercial and industrial equipment sets energy conservation standards
to reduce U.S. energy consumption in residential and commercial
buildings. DOE separates covered products and covered equipment into
classes differentiated by energy source, technology, and capacity. The
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to set standards
for covered products and covered equipment based on energy consumption
at the point-of-use. (42 U.S.C. 6291(4), 6311(4)).
The point-of-use method for measuring energy consumption
[[Page 51424]]
considers the use of electricity, natural gas, propane, and/or fuel oil
by an appliance at the site where the appliance is operated. DOE uses
point-of-use measures of energy consumption, usually presented in the
physical units typically used for the relevant fuel (or electricity),
for setting energy conservation standards. Before choosing an energy
conservation standard, however, DOE performs several analyses to
estimate the likely impacts of candidate standard levels. DOE currently
uses primary energy measures of energy consumption in several of these
analyses. Primary energy includes energy consumed on-site, plus energy
losses that occur in the generation, transmission, and distribution of
electricity.
DOE impact analyses include a: Life-cycle cost analysis,
manufacturer impact analysis, national impact analysis, engineering
analysis, screening analysis, environmental assessment, utility impact
assessment, and employment impact assessment. DOE utilizes primary
energy consumption in several analyses, including the national impact
analysis and the environmental assessment, to estimate the total
projected amount of energy savings and emissions likely to result from
the imposition of a candidate standard. Based on the results of these
various analyses, DOE then proposes (and, ultimately, adopts) the
energy conservation standard that it determines achieves the maximum
energy efficiency improvement that is technologically feasible and
economically justified as required by EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(2)(A)).
Additionally, DOE must determine that the establishment of a new or
amended energy conservation standard will result in significant energy
conservation. (42 U.S.C. 6295(o)(3)(B)).
Section 1802 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) directed
DOE to contract a study with the National Academy of Science (the
Academy) to examine whether the goals of energy efficiency standards
are best served by measurement of energy consumed, and efficiency
improvements, at the actual point-of-use or through the use of FFC,
beginning at the source of energy production. (Pub. L. 109-58). The FFC
measure includes point-of-use energy plus the energy consumed in
extracting, processing, and transporting primary fuels and the energy
losses associated with generation, transmission, and distribution of
electricity. The study, ``Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-
Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/EERE Building Appliance Energy-
Efficiency Standards,'' was completed in May 2009 and provided five
recommendations. A free copy of the study can be downloaded at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12670.
The Academy's primary recommendation is that ``DOE consider moving
over time to use of a FFC measure of energy consumption for assessment
of national and environmental impact, especially levels of greenhouse
gas emissions, and to providing more comprehensive information to the
public through labels and other means, such as an enhanced Web site.''
The Academy further recommended that DOE work with the FTC to consider
options for making product-specific GHG emissions estimates available
to enable consumers to make cross-class product comparisons. DOE is
taking numerous steps to implement these recommendations, including
proposing this Statement of Policy.
More specifically, the Academy recommends that DOE use the FFC
measure of energy consumption for the environmental assessment and
national impact analyses used in energy conservation standards
rulemakings. The FFC measure would provide more complete information
about the total energy use and GHG emissions associated with operating
an appliance than the primary energy measure currently used by DOE.
Utilizing the FFC measure for environmental assessments and national
impact analyses would not require alteration of the measures used to
determine the energy efficiency of covered products and covered
equipment as existing law still requires such measures to be based
solely on the energy consumed at the point of use. (42 U.S.C. 6291(4),
6311(4)). However, using the FFC measure in lieu of primary energy in
environmental assessments and national impact analyses could affect
DOE's consideration of future alternative standard levels. A shift to
considering FFC impacts would increase the energy and emission
reductions estimated to result from specific efficiency standard
levels. This shift would, consequently, increase some of the estimated
benefits of such standards.
DOE proposes to use FFC measures of energy and GHG and other
emissions in the national impact analyses and environmental assessments
included in future energy conservation standards rulemakings. DOE
solicits public comment on its proposal to use FFC measures of energy
use and emissions in these analyses.
DOE currently measures primary energy consumption for national
impact analyses and environmental assessments using the National Energy
Modeling System (NEMS) developed by DOE's Energy Information
Administration (EIA). Similarly, DOE must have an appropriate model(s)
of FFC energy use and emissions in order to employ FFC measures.
DOE believes that the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and
Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model developed for DOE by Argonne
National Laboratory is a model of FFC energy use and emissions that
would be appropriate for this purpose. The GREET model is built in
Microsoft Excel with graphic user interfaces, generates FFC results in
tables that can be readily exported into other table formats, and is
available to the public online at no cost.\1\ The model uses energy
efficiency and emissions information available through the EIA and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). GREET was designed to enable
users to easily compare the total energy use and GHG emissions of
vehicle technologies and different fuels. Since fuel products such as
electricity, oil, natural gas, propane, coal, and biomass are already
simulated in GREET for their FFC effects, the model can be used to
estimate FFC energy use and emissions associated with different fuels
used in appliances as well. DOE also solicits public comment on its
proposal to use the GREET model to estimate FFC energy use and
emissions.
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\1\ Available at http://www.transportation.anl.gov/modeling_simulation/GREET/index.html.
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Methodology for Estimating Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy Impacts
DOE intends to use the GREET model in energy conservation standards
rulemakings to convert primary energy impacts to FFC energy impacts.
First, for each alternative energy conservation standard under
consideration, DOE will estimate primary energy impacts by using NEMS
projections that include the use of individual fuels in power plants as
well as in home appliances such as water heaters. Second, for each
alternative energy conservation standard under consideration, DOE will
use the energy conversion factors that are generated using the GREET
model to convert primary energy use and emission impacts to FFC energy
use and emission impacts.
Preliminary estimates of the current and projected primary energy
to FFC energy conversion factors for on-site fuel and power plant use
developed using the GREET model can be found in Tables 1 and 2. Table 1
lists the preliminary factors to be used to convert
[[Page 51425]]
primary energy to FFC energy for natural gas and fuel oil used in home
appliances. Similarly, Table 2 lists the preliminary factors to use to
convert primary energy to FFC energy for natural gas, fuel oil, coal,
biomass, and nuclear energy used for electricity generation. The
conversion factors represent the ratio of estimated FFC energy use for
each unit of primary energy. To provide additional relevant energy use
information to consumers, these conversion factors are further broken
down into different types of energy (i.e., total energy and fossil
energy; the latter is further broken down to petroleum, natural gas,
and coal).
To account for the fact that energy production technologies and
energy feedstocks will change over time and, consequently, energy
conversion factors will change over time, DOE has also calculated
preliminary estimates for FFC energy conversion factors in 2030. The
year 2030 was chosen because of data limitations in GREET simulations
beyond 2030. As can be seen in Tables 1 and 2, the energy conversion
factors are not expected to change dramatically over time. The small
change in conversion factors from 2010 to 2030 reflects the
comparatively slow incremental changes in the U.S. energy sector
expected between now and 2030. DOE may, nevertheless, use conversion
factors that more substantially change over time if necessary to
reflect evolving expectations regarding the rate of change in energy
production technologies and feedstocks.
DOE proposes to use these (or similar) conversion factors in its
national impacts analysis, which starts with the compliance date of the
standard under development and normally covers a period of 30 years,
plus the typical useful life of the product being analyzed. In its
national impacts analysis, DOE uses product shipment projections and
information about the appliance efficiency base case and the new energy
conservation standards efficiency case to project energy savings of new
energy conservation standards. The methods used are described in the
Technical Support Documents accompanying DOE proposed and final energy
conservation standards rules. As Tables 1 and 2 show, the preliminary
factors for converting primary energy to FFC energy have been estimated
for the years 2010 and 2030. DOE intends to use these or similar
estimates, generated by the GREET model, as the basis for converting
all of the primary energy estimates contained in national impact
analyses to their FFC equivalents. For those years beyond 2030 (or the
end year of the most recent GREET model estimates), DOE will develop
conversion factors based on a simple extrapolation of prior year
estimates. DOE now uses this approach to extrapolate estimates
generated by the NEMS model for the next 25 years (current energy
trends forecasts are through 2035). This is because of the data
limitation of going beyond 2030 in GREET simulations for energy
technology efficiencies and emission factors.
Table 1--Preliminary Energy Conversion Factors for Fuels Used in Home
Appliances
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Conversion factor from primary energy to FFC Natural
energy gas Fuel oil
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GREET 2010 Preliminary Estimates
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Total Energy...................................... 1.073 1.134
Fossil Fuels...................................... 1.072 1.126
Petroleum..................................... 0.004 1.050
Natural Gas................................... 1.065 0.056
Coal.......................................... 0.002 0.020
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GREET 2030 Preliminary Estimates
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Total Energy...................................... 1.073 1.147
Fossil Fuels...................................... 1.072 1.138
Petroleum..................................... 0.004 1.050
Natural gas................................... 1.065 0.068
Coal.......................................... 0.002 0.019
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Table 2--Preliminary Energy Conversion Factors for Power Plant Fuel Consumption
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Natural
Conversion factor from primary energy to FFC energy gas Fuel oil Coal Biomass Uranium
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GREET 2010 Preliminary Estimates
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Total Energy............................................. 1.071 1.134 1.021 1.032 1.065
Fossil Fuels............................................. 1.070 1.126 1.019 0.030 0.047
Petroleum............................................ 0.004 1.050 0.013 0.024 0.004
Natural Gas.......................................... 1.063 0.056 0.002 0.004 0.017
Coal................................................. 0.002 0.020 1.004 0.002 0.026
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GREET 2030 Preliminary Estimates
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Total Energy............................................. 1.071 1.147 1.021 1.032 1.038
Fossil Fuels............................................. 1.069 1.138 1.019 0.031 0.027
Petroleum............................................ 0.004 1.050 0.013 0.024 0.003
Natural Gas.......................................... 1.063 0.068 0.002 0.004 0.011
Coal................................................. 0.002 0.019 1.003 0.002 0.013
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The hypothetical example in Table 3 below depicts how DOE estimates
of the primary energy savings likely to result from a specific standard
level for a particular product might be converted to FFC savings in
future rulemakings using Tables 1 and 2. In this hypothetical example,
the product analyzed has two classes, one using natural gas and the
other electricity. If DOE adopts the FFC approach, DOE will likely
provide tables similar to Table 3 in future Technical Support
Documents. The energy savings estimates included in Federal Register
notices are likely to remain limited to the total National Energy
Savings values now reported.
[[Page 51426]]
Table 3--Hypothetical Example of How Estimates of Primary Energy Savings Might Be Converted to FFC Energy Savings in Future Rulemakings Analyses
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National
energy Natural gas Electric Nuclear
savings (direct, sector Coal Natural gas Petroleum energy Biomass
(total) end-use) (total)
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Estimated Cumulative Primary Energy Saving 2.952 0.770 2.182 0.908 0.308 0.003 0.179 0.100
(quads)........................................
FFC Energy Conversion Factors (for year 2030)... N/A 1.073 N/A 1.021 1.071 1.147 1.038 1.021
Estimated Cumulative FFC Energy Savings (quads). 3.058 0.826 2.232 0.927 0.330 0.003 0.186 0.102
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The early estimates in Tables 1-2 and 4-6 are included in this
notice for demonstrative purposes only. These estimates are not
necessarily the precise conversion factors that will be used in any
given energy conservation standard rulemaking. DOE seeks public comment
on the proposed methodology for converting primary energy use to FFC
energy use, not on the preliminary estimates themselves.
Methodology for Estimating Full-Fuel-Cycle Emissions
The GREET model can also be used to calculate the GHG emissions
associated with energy consumption for DOE environmental assessments.
This can be accomplished in two ways. Using the conversion factors
identified, FFC energy use can be converted to FFC emissions with
emission factors per unit of energy. This method would use the FFC
energy use and emission factors for individual fuels/energy products.
Alternatively, primary energy CO2 emissions can be converted
to FFC GHG emissions, if the type of primary energy is known. The
conversion would be identical to the conversion of primary energy to
FFC energy, as described previously.
Although methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide
(N2O) emissions were not specifically addressed in the
Academy's report, DOE proposes to include them in its energy
conservation standards environmental assessments to provide a more
comprehensive assessment of GHG emissions. These two gases are included
in national GHG emission inventories worldwide. According to EPA,
CH4 and N2O are among the principal GHGs that
enter the atmosphere because of human activities, including energy
production. CH4 is the primary component of natural gas;
CH4 losses occur at all stages of production and
distribution of natural gas. CH4 gas is also commonly found
in coal mines and animal farms. N2O is released by burning
fossil fuels and agricultural farming.
DOE proposes to include CH4 and N2O in
environmental assessments of energy conservation standards because the
gases have a direct association with the production and use of energy
and have significant global warming potential (GWP). Using
CH4 and N2O GWPs from the Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
published in 2007, the GREET model can also be used to calculate
CH4 and N2O emissions in terms of CO2-
equivalent (CO2e) FFC emissions. CO2-equivalents
are used to compare the GWP of GHG gases. The CO2e of
CH4 and N2O emissions can be identified from
CH4 and N2O emissions (as in Table 4) and their
IPCC-determined GWPs.
Table 4 shows preliminary estimates of GHG emissions per unit
energy consumed using the FFC energy use to FFC emissions conversion.
For example, if an energy conservation standard saves 2.76 quads of FFC
natural gas over the normal 30-year analysis period, the 3-GHG
CO2e emission factor from Table 4 of 62,957 kg per billion
Btu of FFC natural gas could be used to calculate that the energy
conservation standard saves 173.8 million metric tons of 3-GHG
CO2e emissions over the normal 30-year analysis period (2.76
x 10\15\ Btu/1000000000 x 62,957 kg/10\9\ Btu/1000). These estimates
provide a general idea of how these factors are expected to change
during a 25-year span covered by an environmental impact analysis
completed in 2010.
Table 5 shows preliminary conversion factors from primary energy
CO2 emissions to FFC GHG emissions. With emissions in Table
4, the conversion factors from primary energy CO2 emissions
to FFC emissions for CO2, CH4, and N2O
(collectively, 3-GHG) can be developed as presented in Table 5. For
example, if the NEMS model estimates that an energy conservation
standard for a natural gas water heater saves 10 million tons of
CO2 emissions at the point of natural gas use by the water
heater, the FFC 3-GHG CO2e emissions saved would be 10
million tons times 1.17 (as shown in Table 5). These estimates provide
a general idea of how these factors are expected to change during a 25-
year span covered by an environmental impact analysis completed in
2010.
Table 4--Preliminary Estimates of GHG Emissions per Unit Energy Consumed
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Natural gas Fuel oil
kg/billion kg/billion Coal kg/ Biomass kg/ Uranium kg/
BTU BTU billion BTU billion BTU billion BTU
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GREET 2010 Preliminary Unit
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CO2, Fuel Combustion........................... 53,620 79,548 102,905 97,212 0
CO2, FFC Total................................. 58,469 89,438 104,422 -3,993 3,919
CH4, FFC Total................................. 161.733 99.499 120.356 6.557 6.940
N2O, FFC Total................................. 1.492 0.537 1.091 11.940 0.064
3-GHG CO2e FFC Total........................... 62,957 92,086 107,756 -271 4,112
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[[Page 51427]]
GREET 2030 Preliminary Unit
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CO2, Fuel Combustion........................... 53,619 79,548 102,904 97,212 0
CO2, FFC Total................................. 58,451 90,255 104,406 -3,991 2,185
CH4, FFC Total................................. 161.917 100.583 120.446 6.560 4.389
N2O, FFC Total................................. 1.518 0.562 1.178 11.942 0.055
3-GHG CO2e FFC Total........................... 62,952 92,937 107,768 -268 2,311
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Table 5--Preliminary Estimates of GHG Emissions Conversion Factors
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Natural gas Fuel oil Coal Biomass Uranium
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GREET 2010 Preliminary Estimates
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Primary energy CO2 to FFC CO2.................. 1.09 1.12 1.01 -0.04 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to FFC CH4.................. 0.00302 0.00125 0.00117 0.00007 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to FFC N2O.................. 0.00003 0.00001 0.00001 0.00012 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to 3-GHG FFC CO2e........... 1.17 1.16 1.05 0.00 N/A
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GREET 2030 Preliminary Estimates
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Primary energy CO2 to FFC CO2.................. 1.09 1.13 1.01 -0.04 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to FFC CH4.................. 0.00302 0.00126 0.00117 0.00007 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to FFC N2O.................. 0.00003 0.00001 0.00001 0.00012 N/A
Primary energy CO2 to 3-GHG FFC CO2e........... 1.17 1.17 1.05 0.00 N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE environmental assessments that accompany energy conservation
standards rulemakings also include non-GHG emissions that result from
energy use. These emissions include mercury (Hg), nitrogen oxide
(NOX), and sulfur dioxide (SOX). NOX
and SOX primary energy consumption emissions can be
converted to FFC emissions using the energy conversion factors in
Tables 1 and 2 generated from the GREET model (to convert primary
energy use to FFC energy use) and the emission conversion factors in
Table 6 (to convert energy combustion emissions to FFC emissions).
Again, these emissions were not specifically addressed by the Academy,
but addressing them in environmental assessments will give DOE a more
complete picture of total emissions benefits associated with energy
conservation standards. The current GREET model does not attempt to
estimate the emissions of Hg that occur from the point of fossil fuel
production to the point of use. Such emissions are expected to be quite
small relative to the emissions of Hg associated with the combustion of
fossil fuels and are not expected to be in the future expansion of
GREET.
Preliminary estimates of conversion factors for NOX and
SOx and estimates of NOX and SOX
emissions per unit energy consumed are provided in Table 6. These
estimates provide a general idea of how these factors are expected to
change during a 25-year span covered by an environmental impact
analysis completed in 2010.
Table 6--Preliminary Estimates of NOX and SOX Conversion Factors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Gas Fuel Oil Coal Biomass Uranium
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREET 2010 Preliminary Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX fuel combustion to FFC NOX................. 1.77 1.24 1.14 1.14 N/A
SOX fuel combustion to FFC SOX................. N/A 1.03 1.03 1.06 N/A
Unit........................................... kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion
BTU BTU BTU BTU BTU
NOX, FFC Total................................. 50.919 203.309 109.747 119.052 7.509
SOX, FFC Total................................. 11.448 558.361 274.901 30.459 7.795
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREET 2030 Preliminary Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOX fuel combustion to FFC NOX................. 1.64 1.22 1.12 1.09 N/A
SOX fuel combustion to FFC SOX................. N/A 1.03 1.03 1.05 N/A
Unit........................................... kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion kg/billion
BTU BTU BTU BTU BTU
NOX, FFC Total................................. 47.927 199.443 92.415 111.992 4.673
SOX, FFC Total................................. 11.277 556.691 220.219 30.734 3.270
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 51428]]
DOE proposes to use these emission conversion factors in
conjunction with NEMS to conduct environmental assessments for energy
conservation standards rulemakings. The environmental assessment
estimates changes in emissions from GHGs and other pollutants that
would result from the implementation of a new energy conservation
standard. The NEMS model uses information on fossil fuel energy
consumption and fuel-specific emissions factors to estimate
CO2 emissions, which are projected over approximately a 25-
year time horizon (currently 2035, as determined by EIA).
NEMS model energy projections can be used along with the emissions
factors from the GREET model to determine the current and projected
emissions for CO2, and CH4 and N2O in
CO2-equivalents. If DOE adopts this approach, it will likely
provide tables in future Technical Support Documents that indicate how
primary energy savings and/or emission reduction values generated by
the NEMS model are then converted to estimates of FFC energy savings
and/or emission reductions using conversion factors similar to those
reported in Tables 4-6. The FFC emission reduction estimates included
in standards rulemaking documents are likely to remain limited to the
total cumulative emission reduction values now reported for each
candidate standard level.
DOE proposes to use the energy savings and/or emission reductions
generated by the NEMS model and the emissions factors produced by the
GREET model to project emissions for CO2, CH4,
N2O, NOX, and SOX for environmental
assessments. DOE seeks public comment on the proposed methodology for
determining FFC GHG and other emissions.
Policy for Disseminating Information to Consumers
The Academy has recommended that DOE work with the FTC to provide
consumers with information about FFC energy use and emissions of
individual appliances so that the public can make more informed
purchasing decisions. In particular, the Academy recommended that
``DOE/EERE (the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) and
the Federal Trade Commission should initiate a project to consider the
merits of adding to the Energy Guide label an indicator of how an
appliance's total energy consumption might affect levels of greenhouse
gas emissions. Such a project would include development of specific
data on greenhouse gas emissions associated with the appliance's
operation, formulation of pertinent information for addition to the
appliance's energy efficiency label, and research with a sample of
consumers to test various options for encouraging consumers'
understanding and use of information on FFC energy consumption and its
impacts.''
The FTC maintains online databases of the site energy use and
efficiency ratings of appliances currently on the market.\2\ These
databases do not, however, include FFC energy use or any energy cost or
emissions-related data. While it is possible to compare the site energy
use and efficiency ratings of different products using these databases,
such comparisons are often difficult, especially if they involve
products that have different features. Furthermore, comparing products
that use different fuels is not feasible because there are no
comparable measures of energy use or efficiency for products that use
different fuels.
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\2\ Available at http://www.ftc.gov/appliancedata.
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DOE proposes to significantly improve upon the FTC's existing on-
line databases by making FFC energy use and emissions data (and
possibly annual energy costs data) available to the public. The
improved databases could provide tools to enable users to easily
compare a product's energy use, emissions, and costs to similar
products, including products that are in different classes, have
different features or use different fuels. Additional energy,
emissions, and cost data could be included by updating FTC's online
database with the emissions factors developed with the GREET model and
the average energy prices reported by manufacturers on appliance Energy
Guide labels. DOE is soliciting public comment on whether this proposed
online service would likely benefit consumers and, if so, the most
effective way to present this information.
The Academy also recommended consideration of ``the merits of
adding to the Energy Guide label an indicator of how an appliance's
total energy consumption might affect levels of greenhouse gas
emissions.'' It is unclear, however, whether such additional label
disclosures would be valuable to customers unless they could easily
compare the GHG emissions associated with one product to other
comparable products or other common energy uses. Because the GHG
emissions associated with a particular class of products would be
directly proportional to that class of products' estimated annual
energy costs, simply comparing an individual product to products of the
same class would add little useful information to the label. In
addition, providing comparisons to the energy use, costs or emissions
associated with other comparable products of different classes on the
Energy Guide label may increase the complexity of the label, making the
label more difficult to understand and decreasing the utility of the
basic annual operating cost information already on the label.\3\
Nevertheless, DOE seeks comments on whether it should provide this type
of information on Energy Guide labels and on the issues associated with
disseminating this type of information to consumers via such label or
by other means.
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\3\ For most products covered under the appliance label program,
Energy Guide labels display estimated annual operating cost as the
primary disclosure, with energy use or efficiency displayed as
secondary information. These Energy Guide labels also include a
range of costs for models of similar size and features (e.g.,
natural gas water heaters with first hour ratings between 41 and
47). Labels for a few products, such as furnaces and central air
conditioners, do not provide operating cost but, instead, display an
efficiency measure and display where that efficiency falls in a
range of efficiencies for similar models. See 16 CFR Part 305.
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Public Participation
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for developing this policy document. DOE actively
encourages the participation and interaction of the public during the
comment period.
The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, facilitated
conference style. There will be no discussion of proprietary
information, costs or prices, market shares, or other commercial
matters regulated by U.S. antitrust laws.
Public meeting participants need not limit their comments to the
issues identified. DOE is also interested in comments on other relevant
issues. DOE invites all interested parties, whether or not they
participate in the public meeting, to submit in writing by October 19,
2010, comments and information on matters addressed in this notice.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the public meeting, receive
meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive
future notices and information about this policy document should
contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945, or via e-mail at
[email protected].
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 12, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-20563 Filed 8-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P