Details of Light Bulb & HMT Use Bans in House-Passed Energy Bill

(H.R. 2354, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012 was passed by the House on July 15, 2011. On July 18, 2011, the bill was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.)

Would Ban Funds for Higher Light Bulb Standards, Expanded Uses of HMF, Etc.

H.R. 2354 would prohibit any of its funds from being used to:

Implement incandescent bulb “phase out” - implement or enforce the more stringent energy conservation standards for general service incandescent lamps (light bulbs) under 10 CFR 430.32(x), which will in effect phase out many traditional incandescent light bulbs from January 2012-2014, as they will not be able to meet the new standards. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/28/11 news, 11032822, for BP summary of the standards and various legislative attempts to repeal them.)

Implement or enforce standards for certain IRLs - implement or enforce the standards established by the tables contained in 42 USC 6295(i)(1)(B) with respect to BPAR incandescent reflector lamps (IRLs), BR incandescent reflector lamps, and ER incandescent reflector lamps. According to one association, manufacturers have taken advantage of a loophole that exempts some of these lamps from federal standards.¹

(Note that the Administration issued a policy statement expressing opposition to a previous legislative attempt to repeal of the energy efficiency standards for light bulbs, and on July 12, 2011, the House failed to pass H.R. 2417, the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act. See ITT's Online Archives or 07/13/11 news, 11071312, for BP summary.)

Expand uses of Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund - develop or submit a proposal to expand the authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund described in section 9505(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 9505(c)).²

Fund int’l activities at China renewable energy office - fund any portion of the International activities at DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in China.

Enforce EISA provision on gov’t fuel procurement - enforce section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which prohibits federal agencies from procuring synthetic fuel unless its life cycle GHG emissions are less than those for conventional petroleum sources.

¹According to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, incandescent reflector lamps (IRLs) are common cone-shaped light bulbs most typically used in track lighting and "recessed can" light fixtures. The cone is lined with a reflective coating to direct the light. PAR lamps are the most common type of IRL; other common IRLs include "blown" PAR (BPAR) lamps, which are designed to be a low cost substitute for PAR lamps, and "bulged" reflector (BR) lamps. The organization states that use of BR lamps has ballooned over the past 15 years as manufacturers have taken advantage of a loophole that exempts them from federal standards.

²The authorized uses of 26 USC 9505(c) include: (i) to carry out section 210 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996; (ii) for payments of rebates of tolls or charges pursuant to section 13(b) of the Act of May 13, 1954 (as in effect on April 1, 1987); and (iii) for the payment of all expenses of administration incurred by the Department of the Treasury, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Commerce related to the administration of subchapter A of chapter 36 (relating to harbor maintenance tax), but not in excess of $5,000,000 for any fiscal year.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/18/11 news, 11071802, for BP summary announcing the House had passed H.R. 2354.)

House Appropriations Committee press release available here.