[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33769-33770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11950]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years, an 
information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before August 2, 2022. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Maria Vargas, EE-5A/
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, 
by fax at (202) 586-8177, or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Maria Vargas, EE-5A/Forrestal Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, by fax at (202) 586-8177, 
or by email at [email protected] or by telephone (202) 586-7899.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 
extended collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    This information collection request contains:
    (1) OMB No.: 1910-5141;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Department of Energy 
Better Buildings Initiative Voluntary Pledge Program;

[[Page 33770]]

    (3) Type of Review: Extension with Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection;
    (4) Purpose: This Information Collection Request applies to four 
Department of Energy (DOE) voluntary leadership initiatives that fall 
under DOE's Better Buildings Initiative: (1) The Better Buildings 
Challenge; (2) the Better Buildings, Better Plants Program (Better 
Plants); (3) the Better Buildings Alliance; and (4) the Better Climate 
Challenge. Five new information collection instruments are proposed so 
that Better Climate Challenge partners can share details about their 
projects and submit annual portfolio-wide emissions reductions data, 
and additionally so that the program may collect updates regarding 
partner's waste reduction progress. Other pre-existing collection forms 
are being amended for clarity and to reduce burden on respondents. 
Also, the total number of respondents and response time for individual 
program areas is being adjusted to align with practical experience and 
to account for changes to the program growth over time. For example, 
because many Better Buildings and Better Plants partners have joined 
the Better Climate Challenge, we anticipate a reduction in the amount 
time spent on Better Buildings and Better Plants documents as these 
organizations focus their efforts on the Better Climate Challenge.
    The leadership initiatives in the Better Buildings Initiative 
covered under this Information Collection Request are intended to drive 
greater energy, water efficiency, and emissions reduction in the 
commercial, public, residential, data center, and industrial 
marketplace to reduce pollution, cut costs, and create jobs. This is 
accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market 
barriers to greater efficiency and decarbonization with replicable 
solutions. The program showcases real solutions and partners with 
industry leaders to better understand policy and technical 
opportunities. There are three types of information to be collected 
from primary participants, also referred to as ``Partners:'' (1) 
Background data, including contact information, a partnership agreement 
form, logo(s), information needed to support public announcements, 
updates on participants' showcase projects, and an energy savings/
emissions reductions goals; (2) Portfolio-wide energy performance 
information; and (3) Information on market innovations participants are 
including in their energy efficiency and decarbonization processes. 
Background data is primarily used to develop website content that is 
publically available. Portfolio-wide facility-level energy performance 
and emissions reduction information is used by DOE to measure the 
participants' progress in meeting the goals of the program, as well as 
to aggregate the change in energy and decarbonization performance and 
related metrics for the entire program. Information on market 
innovation is used to highlight successful strategies participants use 
to overcome challenges, and is made publicly available. Additional 
background information is being collected from ``Allies,'' which are 
financial organizations that make a public commitment to support energy 
efficiency and decarbonization. Background information including name, 
dollars committed to the market, and a company logo is also used to 
develop publically available website content. Responses to the DOE's 
Information Collection Request are voluntary.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 841.
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 841.
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 1,854.25.
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
$84,869.
    Statutory Authority: Section 421 of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17081); Section 911 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005, as amended (42 U.S.C. 16191).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on May 12, 
2022, by Maria Vargas, Director of Better Buildings, Office of Energy 
Efficiency & Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the 
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date 
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in 
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-11950 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P