Energy Department
A Presidential determination issued on April 20, 2026, found that grid infrastructure supply chains, including distribution transformers and electrical core steel, are essential to national defense, and that U.S. industry faces critical constraints from limited domestic product capacity, extended procurement timelines, and foreign supply dependence. The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is initiating an information and data gathering effort to understand how the energy conservation standards for distribution transformers adopted in an April 2024 final rule, with compliance required in 2029, interact with these national security considerations, including impacts on domestic manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience, and the availability and cost of key materials. DOE is also seeking information on whether the revised energy conservation standards result in special hardship, inequity, or unfair distribution of burdens, including investment needs and market conditions associated with redesigning equipment to comply by the 2029 compliance date.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Energy 10 CFR Part 431 [EERE-2026-BT-STD-0133] ( printed page 35903) AGENCY: Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, Department of Energy. ACTION: Request for information. SUMMARY: A Presidential determination issued on April 20, 2026, found that grid infrastructure supply chains, including distribution transformers and electrical core steel, are essential to national defense, and that U.S. industry faces critical constraints from limited domestic product capacity, extended procurement timelines, and foreign supply dependence. The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) is initiating an information and data gathering effort to understand how the energy conservation standards for distribution transformers adopted in an April 2024 final rule, with compliance required in 2029, interact with these national security considerations, including impacts on domestic manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience, and the availability and cost of key materials. DOE is also seeking information on whether the revised energy conservation standards result in special hardship, inequity, or unfair distribution of burdens, including investment needs and market conditions associated with redesigning equipment to comply by the 2029 compliance date. DATES: Written comments, data, and information are requested and will be accepted on or before July 15, 2026. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations…
Citation: 91 FR 35903
