covered product, unless regulation of the com-
ponent is authorized or established pursuant to 
this title.’’. 
SEC. 222. REGIONAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR HEAT-
ING AND COOLING PRODUCTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 327 of the Energy Policy 
and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6297) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and 
(g) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR HEAT-
ING AND COOLING PRODUCTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) 
DETERMINATION.—The 
Secretary 
may determine, after notice and comment, that 
more stringent Federal energy conservation 
standards are appropriate for furnaces, boilers, 
or central air conditioning equipment than ap-
plicable Federal energy conservation standards. 
‘‘(B) FINDING.—The Secretary may deter-
mine that more stringent standards are appro-
priate for up to 2 different regions only after 
finding that the regional standards— 
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‘‘(i) would contribute to energy sav-
ings that are substantially greater than 
that of a single national energy standard; 
and 
‘‘(ii) are economically justified. 
‘‘(C) REGIONS.—On making a determina-
tion described in subparagraph (B), the Sec-
retary shall establish the regions so that the 
more stringent standards would achieve the 
maximum level of energy savings that is techno-
logically feasible and economically justified. 
‘‘(D) FACTORS.—In determining the ap-
propriateness of 1 or more regional standards 
for furnaces, boilers, and central and commer-
cial air conditioning equipment, the Secretary 
shall consider all of the factors described in 
paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 325(o). 
‘‘(2) STATE PETITION.—After a determination 
made by the Secretary under paragraph (1), a State 
may petition the Secretary requesting a rule that a 
State regulation that establishes a standard for fur-
naces, boilers, or central air conditioners become ef-
fective at a level determined by the Secretary to be 
appropriate for the region that includes the State. 
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‘‘(3) RULE.—Subject to paragraphs (4) through 
(7), the Secretary may issue the rule during the pe-
riod described in paragraph (4) and after consider-
ation of the petition and the comments of interested 
persons. 
‘‘(4) PROCEDURE.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide notice of any petition filed under para-
graph (2) and afford interested persons a rea-
sonable opportunity to make written comments, 
including rebuttal comments, on the petition. 
‘‘(B) DECISION.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (C), during the 180-day period 
beginning on the date on which the petition is 
filed, the Secretary shall issue the requested 
rule or deny the petition. 
‘‘(C) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may 
publish in the Federal Register a notice— 
‘‘(i) extending the period to a speci-
fied date, but not longer than 1 year after 
the date on which the petition is filed; and 
‘‘(ii) describing the reasons for the 
delay. 
‘‘(D) DENIALS.—If the Secretary denies a 
petition under this subsection, the Secretary 
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