LAMP LEGISLATION

DOE APPROVES TWO-YEAR EXTENSION FOR ENERGY STANDARDS FOR 700 SERIES T8 LAMPS

On April 16, 2012, DOE’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) granted GE, OSI, and Philips their Applications for Exception for relief from certain provisions of 10 C.F.R. Part 430, “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for General Service Fluorescent Lamps (GSFL) and Incandescent Reflector Lamps (Lighting Efficiency Standards)”. These provisions took effect July 14, 2012; however, because the 2009 Final Rule also included minimum efficacy for T8 lamps, the rule would have effectively phased out the 700 Series T8 lamps in favor of 800 series types.

The three firms each made the case that they do not have access to sufficient amounts of reasonably priced rare earth oxides required to manufacture enough of the high efficiency phosphors used in the regulated T8 lamps (800 series lamps use more rare earth phosphor than 700 series lamps). Also, access to sufficient amounts at any price was not deemed possible. It was determined that China, which controls about 95% of the global rare earth phosphor supply, has adopted policies which have significantly limited the exportation of these materials. While steps are being taken by the affected companies (many others – not just lamp companies) to develop alternate sources, this will take time. Therefore, OHA granted exception to the Applicants (only GE, OSI, and Philips to date) authorizing them to continue manufacturing 700 series T8 GSFLs for a period of two years, until July 14, 2014.

Excerpted from: http://www.ies.org/pdf/publicpolicy/DOE-Office-of-Hearings-and-Appeals-Approves-T8-Fluorescent-Lamp-Exception.pdf