Date: August 8th, 2013
Topic: Climate Change Mitigation, Energy
Type: Administrative Proceeding
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington
States decided to take action after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) missed legal deadlines set by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) for revising efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, metal halide lamps, electric motors and commercial refrigeration equipment. The State AGs pressed DOE to update these standards in a timely manner, and eventually reached an agreement with DOE establishing a timetable for updating and strengthening the standards. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), strengthening the standards will result in substantial cuts in air, water and climate change pollution and save businesses and consumers across the country an estimated $156 million per month, and $3.8 billion per year by 2035.
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