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Consistent with the requirements under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is examining whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for consumer clothes washers found at 10 CFR 430.32(g). To this end, DOE must determine whether standards more stringent than those currently in place would result in a significant amount of energy savings and whether such amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE has tentatively proposed standards that represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy. Specifically, with regards to technological feasibility, products achieving these standard levels are already commercially available for all product classes covered by this proposal. As for economic justification, DOE’s analysis shows that the benefits of the proposed standard exceed the burdens. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE’s statutory obligation to either propose amended standards for this product or determine that the standards do not need to be amended.

Additionally, EPCA directs DOE to provide interested persons an opportunity to present oral and written comments on matters related to any energy conservation standard proposed rule. To satisfy this requirement, DOE held an initial public meeting in November 2021 to discuss preliminary materials and a second meeting in March 2023 to specifically discuss the proposed rule. DOE intends address any feedback provided during the March 2023 public meeting in subsequent materials.