The MOU also commits the U.S. Department of the Interior and California agencies to develop a timeline for applicants to follow in order to meet incentive deadlines set by the Recovery Act. Secretary Salazar and Governor Schwarzenegger called the agreement "a model of federal-state initiative and cooperation." See the press releases from the Interior Department and Governor Schwarzenegger, as well as the full MOU (PDF 39 KB).
The Agreement follows the Interior Department's opening of a new Renewable Energy Coordination Office in California on October 9. The department previously established similar offices in Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming, along with renewable energy permitting teams in six other western states. These offices and teams support the speedy permitting of renewable energy projects and supporting power transmission projects on public lands. To lead the overall initiative, the Interior Department also established a National Renewable Energy Office at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of its Bureau of Land Management (BLM). See the Interior Department press release.
One successful conclusion to such federal and state cooperation occurred on October 12, as Secretary Salazar inaugurated Arizona's first commercial-scale wind project. The Dry Lake Wind Power Project is located on a combination of BLM-managed federal lands, Arizona State Trust Lands, and private lands on the Rocking Chair Ranch in Navajo County.
The project required the cooperation of the Interior Department, the Arizona State Land Department, Navajo County, Rocking Chair Ranch, the project developers, and the Salt River Project, which has agreed to buy the power from the project. Phase I will generate 64 megawatts of wind power with 30 wind turbines. When fully constructed, the project could provide up to 378 megawatts of wind energy from 100 to 200 turbines. See the Interior Department press release.
DOE to Strengthen Enforcement of Energy Efficiency Standards
DOE announced on Tuesday three new steps to strengthen its ability to enforce energy efficiency standards. DOE has formed a new enforcement team within the Office of the General Counsel; established a program to randomly review manufacturers' compliance with DOE certification requirements; and is publishing guidance that provides further details about DOE's energy efficiency enforcement regulations.
In its new guidance, DOE confirms that under existing regulations, it can take enforcement action and assess civil penalties if a manufacturer fails to properly certify a covered product and retain records. Specifically, the agency clarifies that any failure to certify covered products according to DOE's rules violates the Energy Policy Conservation Act of 1975 and DOE regulations. DOE will randomly select previously filed certification reports for review, request certification records as needed, and hold manufacturers accountable for failing to certify covered products according to DOE rules.
These new steps are part of the DOE's ongoing effort to save energy for U.S. residents and businesses by clearing the backlog of energy efficiency standards for appliances and aggressively enforcing energy efficiency standards. This summer, DOE initiated investigations of alleged violations against both an air conditioner manufacturer and a freezer manufacturer. Both investigations are expected to be concluded shortly. See the DOE press release.
++++
EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
