New Procedures Could Boost DOE’s Leverage In Efficiency Enforcement

The Department of Energy (DOE) is planning to hold on-the-record hearings before administrative law judges in enforcement cases for energy and water conservation standards, a move one environmentalist says could give DOE greater leverage compared with its past practice of negotiating directly with companies it found to be in violation. “I interpret the adoption of procedural rules for enforcement hearings as indicating the department will now have more leverage when negotiating penalties,” says Timothy Ballo, a senior attorney with Earthjustice,...