Helpful Resources - Energy Legislation

2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The U.S. Department of Energy has added a Web site to provide information about funding for energy and energy efficiency that has been made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("Recovery Act"). The Web site, http://www.energy.gov/recovery, includes summary information about the federal energy-related programs outlined in the Recovery Act (program name, available funding, and the DOE office responsible for administering) as well as information about Recovery Act funding for each state, the District of Columbia, Tribal Nations, and U.S. territories. The Web site also includes a section which provides links to DOE Funding Opportunities, authorized through the Recovery Act, and a separate section which compiles Communications, Plans, and Reports related to DOE and the Recovery Act, such as press releases and weekly spending reports.

2007 Energy Independence and Security Act
On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, into law (Public Law 110-140). Section 313 includes new electric efficiency standards for motors. The law affects electric motor efficiency in three basic areas:

1. It will raise the minimum efficiency level for 1-200 hp motors that are currently covered by EPAct 1992 to NEMA PREMIUM levels (NEMA MG Table 12-12), except for fire pump motors which remain at EPAct levels.


2. It will set new federal minimum standards for motors that were not covered by standards previously. The following motors in the 1-200 hp range must meet NEMA Energy Efficient levels (i.e. EPAct 1992, NEMA MG Table 12-11), including:
   
   
   • U-Frame motors
   • Design C motors
   • Close-coupled pump motors
   • Footless motors
   • Vertical solid shaft normal thrust motors (tested in a horizontal configuration)
   • An 8-pole motor (900 rpm)
   • Poly-phase motors of not more than 600 volts (other than 230 or 460 volts).
   
   
3. It creates a new federal minimum standards for NEMA design B motors, 201 to 500 hp at NEMA Energy Efficient levels (NEMA MG Table 12-11).

All of the motor types above that are manufactured or imported into the U.S. (alone or as a component of another piece of equipment) must meet the efficiency standards stated above 36 months after the law's enactment (December 19, 2010). However, the details about the promulgation and administration of the regulations are not yet clear.