Energy Policy Act of 1992
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| Enacted by the | 102nd United States Congress |
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| Citations | |
| Public Law | Pub. L. No. 102-486 |
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| Major amendments | |
| Energy Policy Act of 2005 | |
The Energy Policy Act (102nd Congress H.R.776.ENR, abbreviated as EPACT92) is a United States government act. It was passed by Congress and addressed energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy management (Title I), natural gas imports and exports (Title II), alternative fuels and requiring certain fleets to acquire alternative fuel vehicles, which are capable of operating on nonpetroleum fuels (Title III-V), electric motor vehicles (Title VI), radioactive waste (Title VIII), coal power and clean coal (Title XIII), renewable energy (Title XII), and other issues. It reformed the Public Utility Holding Company Act and amended parts of the Federal Power Act of 1935 (Title VII).
Among the provisions is Section 801, which directs the United States Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate radiation protection standards for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. The Yucca Mountain site has been designated by the Federal government to serve as the permanent disposal site for used nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials from commercial nuclear power plants and U.S. Department of Defense activities.
The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 set goals, created mandates, and amended utility laws to increase clean energy use and improve overall energy efficiency in the United States. The Act consists of twenty-seven titles detailing various measures designed to lessen the nation's dependence on imported energy, provide incentives for clean and renewable energy, and promote energy conservation in buildings.
The EPAct directed the federal government to decrease energy consumption in federal buildings when feasible, and to integrate the use of alternative fuel vehicles in federal and state fleets. Title XXII in the EPAct authorized tax incentives and marketing strategies for renewable energy technologies in an effort to encourage commercial sales and production.
Title I established a comprehensive energy efficiency program that included incentives for energy conservation in buildings and created efficiency standards for appliances. The Act also amends the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to help small utility companies stay competitive with larger utilities. It also amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 and broadened the range of resource choices for utility companies and outlined new rate-making standards. There are separate sections dedicated to coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy detailing clean energy incentives, research & development strategies, conservation goals, and responsible management practices.
EPACT92 is also far reaching in the impacting electric power deregulation, building codes and new energy efficient products.
The act was also responsible for the mandate of low flush toilets and outlawing the installation of toilets that flushed more than 1.6 gallons (6 liters) of water.
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TITLE III--Alternative Fuels[edit]
Title III of the 1992 Energy Policy Act addresses alternative fuels. It gave the U.S. Department of Energy administrative power to regulate the minimum number of light duty alternative fuel vehicles required in certain federal fleets beginning in fiscal year 1993. Title III includes:
- Federal Fleet Requirements.
- State and Alternative Fuel Provider Rule.
- Private and Local Government Fleet Rule.
- Alternative Fuel Designation Authority.
TITLE VI--Electric Motor Vehicles[edit]
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Energy Efficiency Provisions[edit]
- Buildings
Requires states to establish minimum commercial building energy codes and to consider minimum residential codes based on current voluntary codes. This gave impetus to the creation and modification of ASHRAE 90.1/1999, 2001, ASHRAE 90.2, the Model Energy Code etc.
- Utilities
Requires states to consider new regulatory standards that would require utilities to undertake integrated resource planning; allow the energy efficiency programs to be at least as profitable as new supply options; and encourage improvements in supply system efficiency.
- Equipment Standards
- Establishes efficiency standards for: Commercial heating and air-conditioning equipment; electric motors; and lamps.
- Renewable Energy
- Establishes a program for providing federal support on a competitive basis for renewable energy technologies
- Alternative Fuels
- Electric Vehicles
- Electricity
Removes obstacles to wholesale power competition in the Public Utilities Holding Company Act (PUHCA).
