[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 12330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03285]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Definition for a Zero Emissions Building: Part 1 
Operating Emissions Version 1.00m Draft Criteria; Reopening of Public 
Comment Period

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

ACTION: Request for information; reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On January 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) 
regarding the creation of a standardized, verifiable basis for defining 
a zero emissions building by the White House Office of Domestic Climate 
Policy (Climate Policy Office), through DOE. The RFI provided for the 
submission of written comments by February 5, 2024. This notice 
announces a reopening of the public comment period for submitting 
comments in response to the RFI through March 6, 2024.

DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on January 9, 2024 (89 
FR 1086) is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and information 
regarding this RFI received no later than March 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically at 
https://forms.office.com/g/Y0Ss3UFdL3.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hayes Jones, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), 
Building Technologies Office, Commercial Buildings Integration, (202) 
586-8873, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 9, 2024, DOE published in the 
Federal Register a request for information (RFI) regarding the creation 
of a standardized, verifiable basis for defining a zero emissions 
building by the Climate Policy Office, through DOE. The RFI does not 
pertain to a rulemaking action. In addition to other net-zero 
emissions, economy-wide goals by 2050, within the building sector, the 
Biden-Harris Administration has set the goal to make zero emissions 
resilient new construction and retrofits comment practice by 2030. 
Accomplishing these goals will require increasing efficiency and 
expanding clean energy capacity. Zero emissions buildings will plug 
into a grid that is rapidly becoming cleaner.
    The American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, and 
National Propane Gas Association (``Joint Requesters'') have requested 
a 30-day extension of the comment period to allow additional time for 
preparation of their comments. The Joint Requesters explain that they 
provide the energy needed to fuel residential, commercial, and 
industrial buildings and are thus stakeholders in this proceeding. The 
Joint Requesters explained that they need additional time to develop 
comments that sufficiently analyze the impacts of the proposed 
definition and because limited staff available during the comment 
period would make it difficult to develop comments in response to the 
RFI. Similarly, the National Association of Home Builders requested an 
extension of the comment period because of staffing limitations and 
concerns over the definition for which they would like additional time 
to provide feedback.
    DOE has determined that reopening the public comment period is 
appropriate based on the foregoing reasons. DOE will consider any 
comments received by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) of March 6, 
2024, and deems any comments received by that time to be timely 
submitted.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on February 8, 
2024, by Jeffrey Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Energy Efficiency and 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 February 13, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-03285 Filed 2-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P