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Ellmers introduces pro-consumer, pro-manufacturing legislation
Story Date: 2/5/2016
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Source: US Rep. Renee Ellmers (NC-2nd), 2/4/16
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) issued the below release following introduction of H.R. 4444 – The External Power Supply (EPS) Improvement Act of 2016.
“Today’s bipartisan legislation is essential to rolling back an outdated and misguided regulation issued by the Department of Energy (DOE). This proposed rule has caused uncertainty within the manufacturing sector, which has the potential to jeopardize jobs, stifle innovation, and diminish the availability of energy-efficient lighting available to consumers.
“This pro-consumer, pro-manufacturing legislation will allow American consumers to purchase lighting technologies in order to lower their utility bills while also providing clarity in the marketplace. There is a need for swift action on this legislation, as the DOE’s final rule is set to go into effect this month.”
BACKGROUND:
The Energy & Power Subcommittee held a hearing on this legislation on January 12th. Click here to view the Energy & Commerce release announcing the hearing or click here to view the release sent after the subcommittee hearing adjourned.
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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Congresswoman Renee Ellmers serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is
Chairwoman of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee.
She represents the Second District of North Carolina which includes all of Fort Bragg.
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