Energy Policy Act of 1992
Encyclopedia
The Energy Policy Act is a United States government act
.
It was passed by Congress
and addressed energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy management (Title I), natural gas imports and exports (Title II), alternative fuels and requiring certain fleets to acquire alternative fuel vehicle
s, which are capable of operating on nonpetroleum fuels (Title III-V), electric motor vehicles (Title VI), radioactive waste (Title VIII), coal power and clean coal (Title XIII), renewable energy (Title XII), and other issues. It reformed the Public Utility Holding Company Act and amended parts of the Federal Power Act of 1935 (Title VII).
Among the provisions is Section 801, which directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency
to promulgate radiation protection standards for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. The Yucca Mountain
site has been designated by the Federal government to serve as the permanent disposal site for used nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials from commercial nuclear power plant
s and U.S. Department of Defense activities.
The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 set goals, created mandates, and amended utility laws to increase clean energy use and improve overall energy efficiency in the United States. The Act consists of twenty-seven titles detailing various measures designed to lessen the nation's dependence on imported energy, provide incentives for clean and renewable energy, and promote energy conservation in buildings.
The EPAct directed the federal government to decrease energy consumption in federal buildings when feasible, and to integrate the use of alternative fuel vehicles in federal and state fleets. Title XXII in the EPAct authorized tax incentives and marketing strategies for renewable energy technologies in an effort to encourage commercial sales and production.
Title I established a comprehensive energy efficiency program that included incentives for energy conservation in buildings and created efficiency standards for appliances. The Act also amends the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to help small utility companies stay competitive with larger utilities. It also amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and broadened the range of resource choices for utility companies and outlined new rate-making standards. There are separate sections dedicated to coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy detailing clean energy incentives, research & development strategies, conservation goals, and responsible management practices.
EPACT92 is also far reaching in the impacting electric power deregulation, building codes and new energy efficient products.
The act was also responsible for the mandate of low flush toilet
s and outlawing the installation of toilets that flushed more than 1.6 gallons (6 liters) of water.
Requires states to establish minimum commercial building energy codes and to consider minimum residential codes based on current voluntary codes. This gave impetus to the creation and modification of ASHRAE 90.1
/1999, 2001, ASHRAE 90.2, the Model Energy Code etc.
Requires states to consider new regulatory standards that would require utilities to undertake integrated resource planning; allow the energy efficiency programs to be at least as profitable as new supply options; and encourage improvements in supply system efficiency.
- Establishes efficiency standards for: Commercial heating and air-conditioning equipment; electric motors; and lamps.
- Establishes a program for providing federal support on a competitive basis for renewable energy technologies
Removes obstacles to wholesale power competition in the Public Utilities Holding Company Act
(PUHCA).
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
.
It was passed by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and addressed energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy management (Title I), natural gas imports and exports (Title II), alternative fuels and requiring certain fleets to acquire alternative fuel vehicle
Alternative fuel vehicle
An alternative fuel vehicle is a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than "traditional" petroleum fuels ; and also refers to any technology of powering an engine that does not involve solely petroleum...
s, which are capable of operating on nonpetroleum fuels (Title III-V), electric motor vehicles (Title VI), radioactive waste (Title VIII), coal power and clean coal (Title XIII), renewable energy (Title XII), and other issues. It reformed the Public Utility Holding Company Act and amended parts of the Federal Power Act of 1935 (Title VII).
Among the provisions is Section 801, which directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
to promulgate radiation protection standards for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. The Yucca Mountain
Yucca Mountain
The Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository was to be a deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear reactor fuel and other high level radioactive waste, until the project was canceled in 2009. It was to be located on federal land adjacent to the Nevada Test Site in Nye County,...
site has been designated by the Federal government to serve as the permanent disposal site for used nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials from commercial nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
s and U.S. Department of Defense activities.
The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 set goals, created mandates, and amended utility laws to increase clean energy use and improve overall energy efficiency in the United States. The Act consists of twenty-seven titles detailing various measures designed to lessen the nation's dependence on imported energy, provide incentives for clean and renewable energy, and promote energy conservation in buildings.
The EPAct directed the federal government to decrease energy consumption in federal buildings when feasible, and to integrate the use of alternative fuel vehicles in federal and state fleets. Title XXII in the EPAct authorized tax incentives and marketing strategies for renewable energy technologies in an effort to encourage commercial sales and production.
Title I established a comprehensive energy efficiency program that included incentives for energy conservation in buildings and created efficiency standards for appliances. The Act also amends the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to help small utility companies stay competitive with larger utilities. It also amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and broadened the range of resource choices for utility companies and outlined new rate-making standards. There are separate sections dedicated to coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy detailing clean energy incentives, research & development strategies, conservation goals, and responsible management practices.
EPACT92 is also far reaching in the impacting electric power deregulation, building codes and new energy efficient products.
The act was also responsible for the mandate of low flush toilet
Low flush toilet
A low flush or low flow toilet is a flush toilet that uses significantly less water than a full flush toilet. Most low flush toilets use 6 liters, or 1.6 gallons per flush as opposed to the usual 13.2 liters, or about 3.5 gallons. They came into use in the United States in the 1990s, citing water...
s and outlawing the installation of toilets that flushed more than 1.6 gallons (6 liters) of water.
TITLE III--Alternative Fuels
Title III of the 1992 Energy Policy Act addresses alternative fuels. It gave the U.S. Department of Energy administrative power to regulate the minimum number of light duty alternative fuel vehicles acquired in certain federal fleets beginning in fiscal year 1993. Title III includes:- Federal Fleet Requirements.
- State and Alternative Fuel Provider Rule.
- Private and Local Government Fleet Rule.
- Alternative Fuel Designation Authority.
Energy Efficiency Provisions
- Buildings
Requires states to establish minimum commercial building energy codes and to consider minimum residential codes based on current voluntary codes. This gave impetus to the creation and modification of ASHRAE 90.1
ASHRAE 90.1
ASHRAE 90.1 is a standard that provides minimum requirements for energy efficient designs for buildings except for low-rise buildings. The original standard ASHRAE 90 was published in 1975 and had multiple editions to it in years after...
/1999, 2001, ASHRAE 90.2, the Model Energy Code etc.
- Utilities
Requires states to consider new regulatory standards that would require utilities to undertake integrated resource planning; allow the energy efficiency programs to be at least as profitable as new supply options; and encourage improvements in supply system efficiency.
- Equipment Standards
- Establishes efficiency standards for: Commercial heating and air-conditioning equipment; electric motors; and lamps.
- Renewable Energy
- Establishes a program for providing federal support on a competitive basis for renewable energy technologies
- Alternative Fuels
- Electric Vehicles
- Electricity
Removes obstacles to wholesale power competition in the Public Utilities Holding Company Act
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 , , also known as the Wheeler-Rayburn Act, was a law that was passed by the United States Congress to facilitate regulation of electric utilities, by either limiting their operations to a single state, and thus subjecting them to effective state...
(PUHCA).
External links
- Thomas (Library of Congress) - Energy Policy Act (1992)
- U.S. Department of Energy - Yucca Mountain Project site
- http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/energypo.html