FMCS Mediators Assist Department of Energy and Industry Groups Establish Groundbreaking Energy Saving Standards

Release Date: 6/30/2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In what has been hailed as the biggest energy-saving standards rulemaking in Department of Energy history, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) assisted industry, government and advocacy groups to achieve major new consensus energy standards for commercial heating and air conditioning equipment. These standards could save nearly 15 quadrillion BTUs (quads) of energy over 30 years and reduce energy consumption and costs by billions of dollars over the lifespan of the equipment.

FMCS Acting Director Allison Beck commended FMCS mediators Eileen Hoffman, Javier Ramirez, Ted Bantle and Isael Hermosillo for facilitating the rulemaking process. “This is a huge accomplishment with far-reaching benefits for our country and its future. The parties dedicated themselves to a collaborative rulemaking process, and we are proud that our mediators were able to help them achieve an extraordinary result.”

While FMCS is known for its distinguished work in the field of labor-management mediation and conflict resolution, the Agency also has a rich history of facilitating collaborative decision-making processes. The Administrative Dispute Resolution and Negotiated Rulemaking Acts of 1990 designated FMCS as a key provider of dispute resolution services to other federal, state, and local government agencies recognizing FMCS’s expertise and ability to reduce costs through the expanded use of alternative dispute resolution processes throughout government.