[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50622-50623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20149]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership;
Amendment
AGENCY: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee:
International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for
Membership; Amendment.
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SUMMARY: This notice amends the Department of Commerce, International
Trade Administration Notice of Reestablishment of the Renewable Energy
and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (the Committee) and
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership of June 23, 2014 (79 FR
35524) to revise the eligibility criteria to permit federally-
registered lobbyists to apply for membership on the Committee. The
Department of Commerce recently revised its policy regarding
appointment of federally-registered lobbyists to Department advisory
committees following a policy clarification by the Office of Management
and Budget that the eligibility restriction does not apply to advisory
committee members who serve in a representative capacity (see 79 FR
47482). Notwithstanding the language in the Committee charter, the
Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) will now consider nominations of
federally-registered lobbyists for appointment on the Committee. We are
in the process of amending the charter. This notice also extends the
deadline for submitting applications to August 29, 2014. All other
eligibility criteria continue to apply.
In June 2014, the Department of Commerce reestablished the
Committee. The Committee advises the Secretary regarding the
development and administration of programs and policies to expand the
competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy
efficiency goods and services, in accordance with applicable United
States regulations. The Committee's work on energy efficiency focuses
on technologies, services, and platforms that provide system-level
energy efficiency to electricity generation, transmission, and
distribution. These include smart grid technologies and services, as
well as equipment and systems that increase the resiliency of power
infrastructure. For the purposes of this Committee, covered goods and
services will not include vehicles, feedstock for biofuels, or energy
efficiency at it relates to consumer goods. Non-fossil fuels that are
considered renewable fuels (e.g., liquid biofuels and pellets) are
included.
DATES: Nominations must be received on or before 4 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time (EDT) on August 29, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mulholland, Office of Energy &
Environmental Industries, Room 4053, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; phone 202-482-4693; fax
202-482-5665; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As announced previously, pursuant to the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., the
Department of Commerce reestablished the Committee on June 12, 2014 for
a period of two years.
The Committee consists of approximately 35 members appointed by the
Secretary in accordance with applicable Department of Commerce guidance
and based on their ability to carry out the objectives of the
Committee. Members represent U.S. companies, U.S. trade associations,
and U.S. private sector organizations with activities focused on the
export competitiveness of U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency
goods and services. In selecting members, Commerce considers whether
the members reflect the diversity of this sector, including in terms of
entity or organization size, geographic location, and subsector
represented, and represent the diversity of company or organizational
roles in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency
projects, including project
[[Page 50623]]
developers, technology integrators, financial institutions, and
manufacturers. The Secretary appoints to the Committee at least one
individual representing each of the following:
a. A U.S. renewable energy company involved in international trade;
b. A U.S. energy efficiency company involved in international
trade;
c. A U.S. small business in the renewable energy or energy
efficiency industry that is involved in international trade;
d. A U.S. trade association in the renewable energy or energy
efficiency sector;
e. A U.S. private sector organization involved with international
investment or financing activities concerning the international trade
of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services;
f. A U.S. company or organization involved with business activities
concerning the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency
projects in international markets; and
g. A U.S. smart grid company or organization with technology or
services that improve the reliability, efficiency, and/or security of
the electric grid and involved in international trade.
Members serve at the pleasure of the Secretary from the date of
appointment to the Committee to the date on which the Committee's
charter terminates, June 12, 2016. Members, all of whom come from the
private sector, serve in a representative capacity presenting the views
and interests of a U.S. entity or U.S. organization, as well as their
particular subsector. They are, therefore, not Special Government
Employees. Members will not be compensated for their services or
reimbursed for their travel expenses.
Additional information on the Committee is available at: http://export.gov/reee/eg_main_023040.asp.
Eligibility and Nomination Process:
The following eligibility requirements must be met:
i. The member must represent either a U.S. company, a U.S. trade
association, or a U.S. private sector organization with activities
focused on the competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and
energy efficiency goods and services;
ii. The member must not be registered as foreign agent under the
Foreign Agents Registration Act; and
iii. The member must not represent a company that is majority owned
or controlled by a foreign government entity or foreign government
entities.
In order to be considered for membership on the Committee, please
follow the instructions in the Nominations section.
Nominations: If you are interested in applying or nominating
someone else to be a member of the Committee, please provide the
following information:
(1) Sponsor letter on the company's, trade association's or
organization's letterhead containing the name, title, and relevant
contact information (including phone, fax, and email address) of the
individual requesting consideration;
(2) An affirmative statement that the nominee will be able to meet
the expected time commitments of Committee work. Committee work
includes (1) attending in-person committee meetings roughly four times
per year (lasting one day each), (2) undertaking additional work
outside of full committee meetings including subcommittee conference
calls or meetings as needed, and (3) frequently drafting, preparing, or
commenting on proposed recommendations to be evaluated at Committee
meetings;
(3) Short biography of nominee, including credentials;
(4) Brief description of the company, trade association, or
organization to be represented and its business activities; company
size (number of employees and annual sales); and export markets served;
(5) An affirmative statement that the nominee meets all Committee
eligibility requirements. Please do not send company, trade
association, or organization brochures or any other information.
Nominations may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to
the attention of Ryan Mulholland at 202-482-5665, or mailed to Ryan
Mulholland, Office of Energy & Environmental Industries, Room 4053,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230, and must be received by 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 29, 2014.
Nominees selected for appointment to the Committee will be notified by
return mail.
Dated: August 19, 2014.
Ryan P. Mulholland,
Acting Team Leader for Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2014-20149 Filed 8-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DSR-P