[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50622-50623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20149]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership; 
Amendment

AGENCY: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee: 
International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy 
Efficiency Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for 
Membership; Amendment.

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SUMMARY: This notice amends the Department of Commerce, International 
Trade Administration Notice of Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy 
and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (the Committee) and 
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership of June 23, 2014 (79 FR 
35524) to revise the eligibility criteria to permit federally-
registered lobbyists to apply for membership on the Committee. The 
Department of Commerce recently revised its policy regarding 
appointment of federally-registered lobbyists to Department advisory 
committees following a policy clarification by the Office of Management 
and Budget that the eligibility restriction does not apply to advisory 
committee members who serve in a representative capacity (see 79 FR 
47482). Notwithstanding the language in the Committee charter, the 
Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) will now consider nominations of 
federally-registered lobbyists for appointment on the Committee. We are 
in the process of amending the charter. This notice also extends the 
deadline for submitting applications to August 29, 2014. All other 
eligibility criteria continue to apply.
    In June 2014, the Department of Commerce reestablished the 
Committee. The Committee advises the Secretary regarding the 
development and administration of programs and policies to expand the 
competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy 
efficiency goods and services, in accordance with applicable United 
States regulations. The Committee's work on energy efficiency focuses 
on technologies, services, and platforms that provide system-level 
energy efficiency to electricity generation, transmission, and 
distribution. These include smart grid technologies and services, as 
well as equipment and systems that increase the resiliency of power 
infrastructure. For the purposes of this Committee, covered goods and 
services will not include vehicles, feedstock for biofuels, or energy 
efficiency at it relates to consumer goods. Non-fossil fuels that are 
considered renewable fuels (e.g., liquid biofuels and pellets) are 
included.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before 4 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT) on August 29, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mulholland, Office of Energy & 
Environmental Industries, Room 4053, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone 202-482-4693; fax 
202-482-5665; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As announced previously, pursuant to the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the 
Department of Commerce reestablished the Committee on June 12, 2014 for 
a period of two years.
    The Committee consists of approximately 35 members appointed by the 
Secretary in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance 
and based on their ability to carry out the objectives of the 
Committee. Members represent U.S. companies, U.S. trade associations, 
and U.S. private sector organizations with activities focused on the 
export competitiveness of U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency 
goods and services. In selecting members, Commerce considers whether 
the members reflect the diversity of this sector, including in terms of 
entity or organization size, geographic location, and subsector 
represented, and represent the diversity of company or organizational 
roles in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency 
projects, including project

[[Page 50623]]

developers, technology integrators, financial institutions, and 
manufacturers. The Secretary appoints to the Committee at least one 
individual representing each of the following:
    a. A U.S. renewable energy company involved in international trade;
    b. A U.S. energy efficiency company involved in international 
trade;
    c. A U.S. small business in the renewable energy or energy 
efficiency industry that is involved in international trade;
    d. A U.S. trade association in the renewable energy or energy 
efficiency sector;
    e. A U.S. private sector organization involved with international 
investment or financing activities concerning the international trade 
of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services;
    f. A U.S. company or organization involved with business activities 
concerning the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency 
projects in international markets; and
    g. A U.S. smart grid company or organization with technology or 
services that improve the reliability, efficiency, and/or security of 
the electric grid and involved in international trade.
    Members serve at the pleasure of the Secretary from the date of 
appointment to the Committee to the date on which the Committee's 
charter terminates, June 12, 2016. Members, all of whom come from the 
private sector, serve in a representative capacity presenting the views 
and interests of a U.S. entity or U.S. organization, as well as their 
particular subsector. They are, therefore, not Special Government 
Employees. Members will not be compensated for their services or 
reimbursed for their travel expenses.
    Additional information on the Committee is available at: http://export.gov/reee/eg_main_023040.asp.
    Eligibility and Nomination Process:
    The following eligibility requirements must be met:
    i. The member must represent either a U.S. company, a U.S. trade 
association, or a U.S. private sector organization with activities 
focused on the competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and 
energy efficiency goods and services;
    ii. The member must not be registered as foreign agent under the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act; and
    iii. The member must not represent a company that is majority owned 
or controlled by a foreign government entity or foreign government 
entities.
    In order to be considered for membership on the Committee, please 
follow the instructions in the Nominations section.
    Nominations: If you are interested in applying or nominating 
someone else to be a member of the Committee, please provide the 
following information:
    (1) Sponsor letter on the company's, trade association's or 
organization's letterhead containing the name, title, and relevant 
contact information (including phone, fax, and email address) of the 
individual requesting consideration;
    (2) An affirmative statement that the nominee will be able to meet 
the expected time commitments of Committee work. Committee work 
includes (1) attending in-person committee meetings roughly four times 
per year (lasting one day each), (2) undertaking additional work 
outside of full committee meetings including subcommittee conference 
calls or meetings as needed, and (3) frequently drafting, preparing, or 
commenting on proposed recommendations to be evaluated at Committee 
meetings;
    (3) Short biography of nominee, including credentials;
    (4) Brief description of the company, trade association, or 
organization to be represented and its business activities; company 
size (number of employees and annual sales); and export markets served;
    (5) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Committee 
eligibility requirements. Please do not send company, trade 
association, or organization brochures or any other information.
    Nominations may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to 
the attention of Ryan Mulholland at 202-482-5665, or mailed to Ryan 
Mulholland, Office of Energy & Environmental Industries, Room 4053, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20230, and must be received by 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 29, 2014. 
Nominees selected for appointment to the Committee will be notified by 
return mail.

    Dated: August 19, 2014.
Ryan P. Mulholland,
Acting Team Leader for Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2014-20149 Filed 8-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DSR-P