Energy.gov

Washington, DC - The Department of Energy’s Office of General Counsel has sent warning letters to 9 manufacturers or trade associations that submitted incomplete energy-efficiency test data to comply with DOE’s energy-efficiency standards.

WASHINGTON DC - The Office of General Counsel has issued Notices of Proposed Civil Penalty to Zoe Industries, Altmans Products LLC, EZ-FLO International, and Watermark Designs, Ltd. for failing to certify to the Department of Energy that showerheads manufactured or distributed by these companies meet the applicable water conservation standard as required by the Energy Policy Conservation Act and DOE's regulations.

Washington, DC - To further transparency and openness in its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Energy (DOE) has created a comprehensive database of categorical exclusion (CX) determinations.  The information is available at Data.gov and the DOE NEPA Website.

Washington, DC - On January 25th, the General Counsel notified 25 manufacturers that the Department of Energy has withdrawn their right to use the Energy Star label on 34 different models of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).  The Department took this action after its off-the-shelf testing revealed that the affected models do not last as long in regular use as Energy Star certification would require.  As a result, these manufacturers have been informed that they can no longer ship or sell any of the 34 models of CFLs bearing the Energy Star label on the bulb or its packaging.

Washington, D.C. - On Monday, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the Department of Energy's decision to remove the ENERGY STAR® label from certain inefficient LG refrigerator-freezer models.  As part of its expanded energy efficient enforcement efforts, DOE had taken steps over the past few months to remove the label from these products, which independent testing had shown were consuming significantly more energy than allowed by the ENERGY STAR® program.

160 manufacturers certify energy use for over 600,000 residential products

Consent Decree with Haier America to Ensure Affected Products Deliver Required Energy and Cost Savings

Washington, DC - The Office of General Counsel was recently asked whether the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 barred the Department from considering a loan guarantee application submitted by Areva Enrichment Services LLC to help fund a uranium enrichment facility in Idaho.  The simple answer is no.  The Act, as passed by Congress, applies only to government procurements.  It does not apply to financial assistance programs or loan guarantee programs.  The Act, as passed by Congress, also applies only to the investments of the actual offerors (or contractors) for procurement

On December 23, 2009, the Government filed its brief in opposition to LG Electronics' motion for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Department of Energy intends to update its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) categorical exclusions, and has posted a request for information on the NEPA website to seek input from interested individuals and organizations regarding new or revised categorical exclusions.