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DOE proposes to undo Trump-era roadblocks for updating Appliance Standards

(ACEEE blog, 1 Apr 2021) The Biden administration announced a proposed rule that, if finalized, could help update energy-saving standards for dozens of types of appliances and equipment, such as refrigerators and furnaces. The proposal from the Department of Energy (DOE) this week would undo key provisions of a Trump administration rule that had set roadblocks for updating these popular standards, which are mandated by Congress.

“This rule will pave the way for the department to set strong standards that slash greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “Without this move the department could get hopelessly stuck in the quicksand of the restrictive process set by the previous administration.”

More than 80% of registered voters favor updating appliance standards, including nearly two-thirds of conservative Republicans—for good reason. A series of such standards could save the average American household $230 annually on utility bills by 2035 and cut carbon emissions over the next 3 decades by an amount equivalent to eliminating at least 13 coal-fired power plants, according to an ACEEE/ASAP report published in November 2020.

Yet, as of Inauguration Day this year, DOE had missed 28 legal deadlines for considering new standards. By January 2025, another 19 will come due, meaning that the new administration has 4 years to consider updating standards for 47 products.

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ACEEE blog, 1 Apr 2021: DOE proposes to undo Trump-era roadblocks for updating Appliance Standards