Republicans criticize DOE gas stove proposal as ‘disturbing breach’ of law.
Republicans Argue Against Proposed Appliance Efficiency Standards
Republicans on the House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing Tuesday on the Department of Energy’s proposed appliance efficiency standards aimed at regulating home kitchen appliances, arguing that the efforts will be costly and burdensome.
The hearing comes after the DOE unveiled in February its new “Energy Policy and Conservation Program,” the proposed rule-making that would allow it to set new efficiency and conservation standards for consumer conventional cooking products, including gas stoves.
It said in a memo that the proposed rules would make at least half of U.S. stove models ineligible for repurchase in stores if they were to come into force today.
In particular, GOP lawmakers sought to argue in the hearing that the DOE’s proposed kitchen appliance rules are a violation of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the federal program that in 1979 directed the DOE to establish energy conservation standards for consumer products.
Under EPCA, the DOE may not prescribe a standard if the standard is not technologically feasible, not economically justified, or does not result in “significant conservation of energy.”
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), said the gas stove rule “presents alarming violations” of the law and of expert witnesses who testified earlier this year before the committee. He was speaking at the outset of Tuesday’s hearing, titled “Canceling Consumer Choice: Examining the Biden Administration’s Regulatory Assault on Americans’ Home Appliances.”
Other rule-makings extend to dishwashers, refrigerators, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, and other household appliances “under the guise of improving energy efficiency,” Fallon said.
“The gas stove rule overall is not a sincere attempt to improve efficiency,” Fallon said.
In response, DOE Undersecretary for Science and Innovation Geri Richmond told lawmakers that “there has been some confusion surrounding this rule.”
In particular, she pushed back on the proposed cost increases for consumers. “Today, nearly 50% of the current gas cooktop models would not be impacted by the rule,” Richmond said. The other 50% would cost manufacturers roughly $12 per unit to modify, she added.
The hearing comes as DOE has proposed a number of new appliance efficiency standards aimed at cracking down on emissions from household appliances.
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The DOE’s proposed gas stove regulations have sparked ire from congressional Republicans, as well as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who pulled his support for President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the office earlier this year, citing his support for the proposed gas stove rules.
Republicans also introduced the ”Save Our Gas Stoves Act” in the House and Senate earlier this year aimed at prohibiting the DOE from implementing any proposed rule on gas stoves.
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