DOT, EPA Boost Fuel Economy, Set GHG Emission Limits for Light Vehicles
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. EPA jointly established new federal rules on April 1 that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the US.
The rules, which will significantly increase the fuel economy of vehicles starting with the 2012 model year, could save the average buyer $3,000 over the life of a 2016 model year car. The measures will conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil, and reduce nearly a billion tons of GHG emissions over the lives of the vehicles covered.
The final rules, issued by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA, establish increasingly stringent fuel economy standards under NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy program and GHG emission standards under the Clean Air Act for vehicles produced in model years 2012-2016.
The collaboration of federal agencies also allows for clearer rules for automakers, instead of three standards (DOT, EPA, and a state standard). Starting with 2012 model year vehicles, the rules require automakers to improve fleet-wide fuel economy and reduce fleet-wide GHG emissions by about 5% a year, reaching an estimated 34.1 miles per gallon (mpg) for the combined industry-wide fleet for model year 2016.
However, because credits for air-conditioning improvements can be used to meet the EPA standards, the rules require manufacturers to achieve a combined average vehicle emission level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile by the 2016 model year. If all the GHG reductions came from fuel economy improvements, this would be equivalent to 35.5 mpg.
NHTSA and EPA expect automobile manufacturers to meet these standards by more widespread adoption of conventional efficiency technologies that are already in commercial use, such as improved aerodynamics, lighter materials, and more efficient engines, transmissions, and tires, as well as improvements in air conditioning systems. The agencies also expects some manufacturers to pursue more advanced fuel-saving technologies such as clean diesel engines, hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and electric vehicles. See the DOT press release, the final rule (PDF 6.93 MB), and the Web page for the EPA climate regulations.
U.S. Federal Government to Double Hybrid Fleet
President Obama announced on March 31 that the federal government will update the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will replace 5,603 of its least-fuel-efficient cars and trucks with hybrids, doubling the number of hybrids in the federal fleet without increasing the total number of vehicles. GSA will also purchase 100 plug-ins in 2011. DOE will lead the initiative by replacing 753 vehicles with hybrids this year, bringing its total to 888, even as the agency trims the overall size of its vehicle fleet.
These steps are part of a broad effort to implement President Obama’s October 2009 Executive Order, which calls for federal agencies to cut the government’s fleet petroleum use by 30% by 2020. See the DOE press release and the article on the Executive Order from the October 7, 2009, edition of the EERE Network News.
DOE to Invest Nearly $18 Million for Advanced Biofuels User Facility
On March 31, DOE announced its Lawrence Berkeley National Lab will build an advanced biofuels process development facility using $18 million in Recovery Act funds.
The new lab, called the Advanced Biofuels Process Development Unit, will speed commercialization of advanced biofuels by allowing researchers and the private sector to test and integrate innovative technologies.
Planned capabilities include biomass pretreatment, enzyme production, fermentation for the production of multiple biofuels, and product purification in quantities sufficient for engine testing at partner institutions. The facility will be available for public use when it becomes fully operational in early 2011.
The facility will contribute to the goals of DOE’s Biomass Program, which has awarded nearly $718 million in Recovery Act funds to speed the growth of a sustainable U.S. bioindustry. These investments will help industry reach the mandated production requirements for advanced biofuels, which increase from 950 million gallons per year in 2010 to 21 billion gallons by 2022.
Advanced biofuels are expected to reduce GHG emissions and can be produced from diverse non-food biomass such as forestry and agricultural residues, mill wastes, energy crops, and sorted municipal solid waste. See the DOE press release and the Biomass Program Web site.
DOE Sets Tough Standards for Home Heating Equipment
DOE announced on April 1 that it finalized more stringent energy efficiency standards for a key group of heating appliances that will together save citizens up to $10 billion and prevent 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the 30 years after they take effect.
The standards apply to residential water heaters, pool heaters, and direct heating equipment such as gas fireplaces. They will cut energy consumption of large electric storage water heaters by 47% and of large gas-fired water heaters by more than 30%. The standards for water heaters go into effect in 2015, while the standards for pool heaters and direct heating equipment-including gas-fired wall, floor, and hearth heaters-will apply to products manufactured in 2013 and beyond. On average, these products account for about 18% of the energy use in U.S. homes.
Under the Obama Administration, DOE has accelerated the pace for finalizing new appliance standards and has placed new resources and emphasis behind the enforcement of these important standards. Since President Obama came to office, DOE has issued or codified new efficiency standards for more than 20 different products, which will save consumers between $250 and $300 billion on their energy bills through 2030. See the DOE press release, the final rule (PDF 1.7 MB), and the Web site for DOE’s Appliances and Equipment Standards Program.
Report Proposes National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation
A recent federal government report finds that climate change is already affecting the ability of federal agencies to fulfill their missions and recommends a national strategy for climate change adaptation. The task force that produced the report includes the participation of more than 20 federal entities.
The progress report from the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force-led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-concludes the U.S. government needs to build resilience in adapting to climate change.
The report calls for a national strategy to integrate climate science into decision-making processes, including the translation of climate science into tools and policies that support federal decision making.
It also calls for improved communications on climate change impacts, adaptation, and resilience; additional training and resources within the federal government; better coordination and collaboration among U.S. government entities, as well as stakeholders; the identification of priority areas for a coordinated government response, such as water resource management and international adaptation; the establishment of a flexible framework for U.S. government agencies to understand, analyze, and respond to climate change challenges and opportunities; and an evaluation of the results of any adaptation effort, to capture lessons learned. See the task force’s progress report on the White House Web site (PDF 227 KB).
Clean Energy Conferences Sprout in Spring and Early Summer
Spring is here, and clean energy conferences are popping up all over. Among those happening in May, the National Hydrogen Association hosts its Hydrogen Conference and Expo on May 3-6 in Long Beach, California. The gathering will feature six hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, ranging from the Chevy Equinox FCEV to Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-CELL, available for test drives. The 2010 International Biomass Conference and Expo will unfold in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 4-6, showcasing 275 exhibits, followed by the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference + Expo 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 9-12, featuring energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens among its 200 speakers.
The Alliance to Save Energy’s Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition is slated for May 10-12 in Washington, D.C., and has scheduled appearances from such energy policy leaders as Cathy Zoi, DOE’s assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The American Solar Energy Society hosts its National Solar Conference, Solar 2010, in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 17-22 and the America Wind Energy Association convenes its annual showcase, Windpower 2010 Conference & Exhibition, on May 23-26, in Dallas, Texas. A "highlight" of Windpower 2010 will be an address by former President George W. Bush.
In June, Smart Grids and ethanol fuels close out the spring season. The Smart Grid Technology Conference & Expo 2010 runs June 2-3 in San Diego, California, and features a rollout of the Google PowerMeter, an energy monitoring system, while the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, slated for June 14-17 in St. Louis, Missouri, marks its 26th year with about 600 exhibitors. The fourth Concentrated Solar Power Summit USA will start off the summer on June 23-25 in San Francisco, California.
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
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