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Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program Suspended The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (“1605(b)”) Program has been suspended. The suspension is due to recent reductions in budget appropriations and is effective immediately. Survey respondents may still submit data to the 1605(b) Program using the program’s Workbook Form via EIA’s Secure File Transfer mechanism. However, EIA will not be able to process and review submitted data or offer respondent support on the submitted data. Should a respondant submit data under the current collection cycle to EIA, the data will be retained in our electronic records. If the 1605(b) Program resumes normal operations, your submitted data will be reviewed and processed at that time. You will be notified in the future if the 1605(b) Program resumes normal operation. If you have any questions, please contact the survey manager, Paul McArdle, at paul.mcardle@eia.govMicrosoft 2007 Users: Must have Service Pack 2 to Report Using New Workbook Form 1605(b) Reporting Cycle Launch Announced The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program also known as the “1605(b)” Program is pleased to announce the launch of the 2010 reporting cycle on April 6, 2011. This is the second reporting cycle under the revised guidelines and will collect data on emissions and emission reductions through 2010. Electronic Reporting via the Microsoft® Excel Workbook Form The form has been split into 23 separate workbooks in order to allow participants to download and complete only the sections of the form that are relevant to them. In order to make using the new spreadsheet-based form as easy as possible, the 1605(b) Program staff has enhanced the Getting Started Tool. This tool guides entities through a series of simple questions regarding the reporting characteristics of the entity and generates a customized check-list indicating which workbooks and sections within the workbooks the reporting entity will need to download, complete, and submit. Please visit the Workbook Form page located on the 1605(b) Program website for more information on how to complete and submit a report using the workbook form. Reporting Schedule
After successfully downloading, completing, and submitting the sections of Form-1605 that apply to your entity, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program staff will contact you to discuss and resolve any problems with the information that you submit. Please direct any questions to the Communications Center via toll-free hotline 1-800-803-5182 or email inbox at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov. Enhanced Getting Started Tool Has Been Posted An enhanced version of the Getting Started Tool is now available online for Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program participants. The Getting Started Tool is an interactive Excel workbook that directs each entity to the appropriate portions of Form EIA-1605 that the entity needs to complete. The enhanced version of the tool indicates which Excel-based workbooks are required for entities intending to submit reports during the 2010 Reporting Cycle. Additionally, the tool provides more specific guidance for users intending to have their reports verified by an independent third party and/or to report offset reductions. We hope that the enhanced Getting Started Tool will make life easier for reporters by helping entities take a systematic approach to reporting their emissions and reductions. Please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-803-5182 with any questions about the 1605(b) Program. 1605(b) Program Newsletter Released The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce the release of the latest Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases program newsletter, The Greenhouse Gas Volunteer. The newsletter’s release coincides with the publication of the 2009 reporting cycle’s annual report, as well as the launch of the 2011 reporting cycle, in which Reporting Year reports of emission reductions can be submitted for the first time. The newsletter is a one-stop shop for details on how to complete, submit, and interpret Form EIA-1605. Articles are included on the following topics:
The latest edition of the newsletter also is the first of its kind to be released as an HTML-enabled Web page, as opposed to a PDF. We hope you find the new format easier to read and navigate. If you have any questions about the newsletter or the Program in general, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-803-5182. Important Notice Regarding Program Changes for Next 1605(b) Reporting Cycle This past reporting cycle was the first to use the newly created electronic internet-based reporting system. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) launched the 1605(b) form in this format in November 2009, and like many software programs in their first release this platform experienced its share of bugs and glitches. Despite these problems, the system was able to effectively collect Start Year data that are to be included in the 2009 Annual Report and Public Use Database. Since the close of the reporting cycle, the 1605(b) Program has been reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of the system and discussing feedback from respondents regarding your experience and the ease with which they were able to complete their Start Year Reports. What we have found is that there needs to be some significant improvements made to the performance of the electronic reporting system when it comes to page load times and ease of navigation through the form. Therefore, EIA and the 1605(b) program have decided to evaluate options to enhance the electronic reporting experience of program participants. In order to avoid gaps in reporting, the 1605(b) Program is working to provide spreadsheet based tools that will allow respondents to continue reporting to the Program while the enhancement development work is being completed. These spreadsheet based tools will allow for a seamless transition between the first iteration of the electronic form and the second. These spreadsheet based tools will be available during the spring of 2011. More information on how to use these tools and when they will become available for download will be provided in the months to come. Due to this enhancement work, respondents who used the electronic, internet-based system to report during the last cycle will no longer be able to access their reports via the Single-Sign-On (SSO) List of Links page after January 11, 2011. Before that date, respondents will be able to access printable PDF versions of their reports through SSO; however, they will no longer be able to modify or submit their reports as before. After the January 11, 2011 date, respondents may obtain PDF copies of their reports by contacting the Communication Center. In addition, the Program's annual report, which will be released in January 2011, will include a summary of the data collected. At the same time, EIA will make available all non-confidential information reported in the Program's Public Use Database. Respondents will also receive acceptance letters and emissions statements once the public use database is finalized. Entities interested in reporting to the 1605(b) Program for the first time under the enhanced guidelines are encouraged to indicate their interested through the Sign-Up Application so they may receive the spreadsheet based tools once released in spring 2011. We appreciate your patience as we continue to make the 1605(b) Program work best for you. Please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at 1-800-803-5182 or via email at InfoGHG@eia.gov if you have any specific questions about your report and/or the improvements being developed. As always, we welcome your feedback regarding the program. Form EIA-1605 Reauthorized By OMB The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently reauthorized Form EIA-1605 under the Paperwork Reduction Act for three years through October 31, 2013. The form and instructions approved by OMB have been slightly revised as a result of the experience gained in the implementation of the first reporting cycle under the revised guidelines launched on November 18, 2009. The revisions to the form fall into the following three categories: Caption/instruction changes, grid changes, and changes to the form designed to bring greater conformity between the paper form and the electronic form. EIA also made changes to the instructions corresponding to the above revisions to the form. In addition, EIA revised the instructions to update the appendices, including the Estimation Methods and Ratings (Appendix G), Fuel Emission Factors (Appendix H), GDP Price Deflators (Appendix K), and Emission Benchmarks for Purchased Steam and Chilled/Hot Water (Appendix N). The revised Form and Instructions are available as PDF files on EIA’s Web site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/1605b_form_and_instructions.htm. If you have any questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes, Stocks and Harvested Wood Products Tool Has Been Posted The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that terrestrial carbon fluxes, stocks and harvested wood products tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html. The forestry tool is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, designed to estimate annual carbon flux associated with reforestation and afforestation and the 100-year residual carbon stock remaining in wood products harvested in the reporting year. If you have any questions concerning this calculation tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. New GUI and Functionality for the 1605(b) Electronic Form The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has updated its Internet Data Collection platform to accommodate interface enhancements and improvements. These changes will affect the current version of the electronic Form EIA-1605. An enhanced version of Form EIA-1605, updated to include Report Year reporting, is scheduled for release in Fall 2010. Updates to the form include both aesthetic and functional enhancements. A more dynamic and appealing user interface makes using the form a more efficient process and increased functionality, such as the new ability to ‘add,’ ‘delete,’ and ‘undelete’ rows of data make the survey easier to use. Data gathered in previous reporting years as well as data entered but not submitted prior to the update will not be affected by the enhancements. Below are examples of the new aesthetic and operational enhancements to the electronic form. If you have questions regarding the new EIA IDC interface or the 1605(b) Program, please contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or 1-800-803-5182. Aesthetic changes
Add, Delete, Undelete
Form EIA-1605 OMB 30-Day Public Comment Request Posted The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently completed its 60-day comment period that ran from March 24, 2010 through May 24, 2010 in order to solicit comments on EIA’s proposed 3-year extension and revision of Form EIA-1605. EIA has revised Form EIA-1605 and its Instructions and has submitted the revised EIA Form-1605 and Instructions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and a 3-year extension under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The submission to OMB will include a 30-day public comment period. You may access links to the Federal Register comment request announcement and the proposed revisions to Form EIA-1605 and Instructions to Form EIA-1605 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/omb2010.html.The comments period deadline is August 26, 2010 This request for public comment does NOT affect, alter or eliminate the present reporting cycle timeline for Form EIA-1605. If you have any questions concerning this public comment request, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182 Subentities Tool Has Been Posted The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that a Subentities Tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html. The Subentities Tool is a PowerPoint document, developed by EIA, designed to help you determine whether or not you should delineate components of your entity as subentities. In addition to explaining what subentities are and why they are necessary or desirable, the tool provides guidance on how you can subdivide your entity into appropriate subentities. If you have any questions concerning this tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182Agricultural Emissions Tools Have Been Posted The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that a series of Agricultural Emissions calculation tools is now available for download on the “Reporting Tools” page of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/reporting_tools.html. Greenhouse gases are emitted from and carbon is sequestered in a diverse set of sources and sinks in the agricultural sector. Generally, the emission sources and carbon sinks can be categorized by activities related to livestock rearing or to crop production. The Agricultural Emissions tools, developed by EIA, estimate greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration from eight major agricultural sources and sinks. All of the Agricultural Emissions calculation tools have been posted on the website in order to aid reporters in preparing emissions inventories.
If you have any questions concerning these calculation tools, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. Mobile Sources Tool has Been Posted The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that Mobile Sources tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html. The mobile sources tool is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, designed to determine direct carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from mobile sources, as well as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) emissions from mobile refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Total emissions are based on default and source-specific emission factors. Mobile sources are defined as highway vehicles (automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles), off-road vehicles and equipment (including small engines such as lawnmowers and equipment used at commercial and industrial sites, non-road equipment used in farming and forestry, at airports, and at railroad and marine terminals), water borne vessels, and aircraft. If you have any questions concerning this calculation tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. Links to COMET-VR and COLE Tools Have Been Posted The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that links to two United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tools (COMET-VR and COLE) are now available on the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program’s “Reporting Tools” page at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/reporting_tools.html The CarbOn Management Evaluation Tool (COMET-VR) is a web-based calculation tool that allows users to estimate changes in mineral soil carbon storage on cultivated lands for most regions and cropping systems prevalent in the United States. The COMET-VR was developed by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, in collaboration with researchers at the Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University. The tool can be used to help entities obtain default estimates of annual soil carbon fluxes for purposes of reporting under the 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. The Carbon Online Estimation (COLE) tool is a user-friendly model developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) that provides customized estimates of forest carbon for user-selected areas of the conterminous United States. The model allows users to designate an area of interest, and currently provides area, growing-stock volume, and carbon pool estimates for the conterminous United States. If you have any questions concerning this announcement, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182Form EIA-1605 Proposed 3-Year Revision and Renewal Public Comment Request April 2010 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting comments on a proposed three-year revision and renewal to Form EIA-1605, “Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases.” Any comments received help the EIA to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. You may access links to the Federal Register comment request announcement and the proposed revisions to Form EIA-1605 and Instructions to Form EIA-1605 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/omb2010.html.The comments period deadline is May 24, 2010 This request for public comment does NOT affect, alter or eliminate the present reporting cycle timeline for Form EIA-1605. If you have any questions concerning this public comment request, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182 Self-Certified Report Deadline Extended to March 16, 2010 January 14, 2010The U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) re-launched the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (“1605(b)”) Program on November 18, 2009. Under the Program’s original schedule, the deadline for self-certified reports was to be January 15, 2010. However, because a number of Program participants were not aware of the Program re-launch and unfamiliar with the Program’s new reporting requirements and the originally announced reporting schedule coincided with the holiday season, EIA has decided to extend the deadline for self-certified reports to March 16, 2010. The new reporting deadline schedule is as follows:
If you have any questions concerning the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program deadlines, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. Stationary Combustion Tool has Been Posted The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that the Stationary Combustion tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html. The Stationary Combustion tool is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, designed to determine direct carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Stationary Combustion based on default and source-specific emission factors. Stationary Source Combustion is defined as the burning of a fuel to produce heat or motive power using equipment in a fixed location. Stationary Combustion includes electric power generation, residential and commercial space heating or district heating, industrial process heating, cogeneration (also called “combined heat and power”), and powering engines for diverse purposes, including driving compressors and pumps. There are three general methods for estimating emissions from stationary source combustion: direct measurement, mass balance and inferring emissions from activity data and sample emissions measurements. If you have any questions concerning this calculation tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. 1605(b) Program To Launch November 18, 2009 The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program (“1605(b) Program”) is pleased to announce that the 1605(b) Program will launch the initial reporting cycle under the enhanced Guidelines on November 18, 2009. In order to participate in the program there are some pre-launch activities that respondents will need to complete. For the next several months, the 1605(b) Program will only be collecting Start Year Reports. The 1605(b) Program analysts will review and approve your Start Year Report before collecting Reporting Year Reports during the next reporting cycle in order to avoid having any potential errors carry through multiple Reporting Year Reports. Please read and follow the instructions below: In order to grant access to EIA’s internet data collection system for the 1605(b) Program, we have created a Sign-Up page that allows reporters to request access to our system. The following questions will be asked of you at Sign Up:
Once you have collected the above information please follow this link to Sign-Up to report: https://signon.eia.doe.gov/SignUp/ Instructions for Sign-Up: 1. If you already have an EIA Single Sign-On (SSO) user ID and password, enter it in on the first page. You will then be asked additional questions to complete your enrollment for the 1605(b) survey. Once, you have completed the Sign-Up application, an email will be sent to the program office for approval. Once your request for access has been approved you will receive an email with the necessary links to the electronic form. We encourage all reporters to complete the Sign-Up process prior to launch in order to ensure they will be ready to report when the form is available on November 18, 2009. Instructions for allowing multiple users for a specific entity: 1. The first user to sign up for a specific entity will be issued a unique Entity ID. Additional program information: All of the four main calculation tools will be posted on the website to aid reporters in preparing emissions inventories. These tools are:
The tools listed above will be available for download at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/reporting_tools.html (Note: Other tools will be posted as they come available and announcements will be sent to the 1605(b) email distribution list) Program schedule deadlines:
Thank you for participating in the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. Please direct any questions regarding Sign-Up or the program in general to the Communications Center via toll-free hotline 1-800-803-5182 or email inbox at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity Calculation Tool has Been Posted The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that the Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity calculation tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html. The Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity tool is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, designed to determine indirect carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Electricity Purchases based on default and source-specific emission factors. The Program’s General Guidelines provide that reporters must report indirect emissions arising from the consumption of electricity, steam, and hot and chilled water generated by and purchased from other entities separately from direct emissions in their Emissions Inventories. This worksheet applies the methods and standards for estimating emissions from the electricity component of these energy purchases, as laid out in the Program’s Technical Guidelines, Part F. If you have any questions concerning this calculation tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182. Version 2.0 of the Simplified Emissions Inventory Tool (SEIT) has been finalized and posted October 2009 The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that version 2.0 of the Simplified Emissions Inventory Tool (SEIT) is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html.
Please note that the preliminary estimates developed using SEIT should not be used to prepare, in whole or in part, entity-wide emission inventories required for the registration of emissions reductions (see General Guidelines, §300.2). In the case of registering emission reductions, methods outlined in the Program’s Technical Guidelines should be employed. If you have any questions concerning the SEIT tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182.
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