Today the House of Representatives unanimously passed the EPS Improvement Act (H.R. 518). The bill, which was written and introduced by Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), along with Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), will amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to strengthen standards used to keep LED lighting safe and efficient.
"Today's vote in support of this bill brings us much closer to ensuring that our country's energy conservation standards are up to date with the latest developments in high-tech lighting," DeGette said. "This bipartisan bill will facilitate the continued growth of LED lighting and will help lower energy prices for businesses and households in Colorado and across the nation."
The bill clarifies the statutory definition of "external power supplies" set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amends the conditions under which the Energy Department could undertake a rulemaking in the future. The EPCA caused the drivers for Light Emitting Diodes and Organic Light Emitting Diodes to be categorized as external power supplies. With subsequent development of LED and OLED technology and its rising popularity for previously unforeseen uses, the standards need to change.