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Ellmers pro-manufacturing, pro-consumer legislation passes House
Story Date: 3/1/2016
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 2/29/16
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) issued the below following House passage of her legislation H.R. 4444 – The External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act of 2016.
“I am excited to see my bipartisan legislation pass the House of Representatives today, as lighting companies provide over 3,000 jobs in North Carolina. Passage of H.R. 4444 ensures that these businesses and the jobs they provide to North Carolinians are not disrupted.”
“As a member of the Energy & Power Subcommittee, I have a responsibility to keep policy up-to-date with advancements made in the industry. H.R. 4444 allows us to make these necessary updates. This pro-consumer, pro-manufacturing legislation will exempt certain lighting technologies from a misguided regulation issued by the Department of Energy (DOE).”
“This policy provides clarity in the marketplace for manufacturers, encourages innovation within the lighting sector, and lowers energy prices for American families and businesses. It’s a win-win, and I’m grateful for the work of my colleague, Representative DeGette, and the Energy & Commerce Committee for their leadership in moving this legislation.”
BACKGROUND:
Most recently, the Energy & Commerce Committee advanced Rep. Ellmers’ legislation during a full committee markup on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 by voice vote. Today, H.R. 4444 passed out of the House Chamber.
Similar language to The EPS Improvement Act of 2016 passed the House in December of 2015 as a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 8, North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act. In the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to set energy efficiency standards for External Power Supplies (EPS) for the first time. In addition to directing DOE to set efficiency standards for EPS, Congress also set the initial definition of EPS.
In 2014 while finalizing the rule for the latest standard, DOE stated that certain lighting products could be defined as an EPS, such as certain Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) drivers. This however was not the intent of Congress, as LED and OLED drivers were not on the market at the time the congressional definition was drafted. Furthermore, LED and OLED drivers operate differently from EPS.
While EPS use a single stage power conversion, SSL drivers utilize a two stage power conversion design. The DOE EPS efficiency standards are based on a single stage design, making it impossible for LED and OLED to meet the standard.
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