Staff Reports
In a bold move against the Biden administration’s push for more stringent regulations on gas-powered furnaces, the American Gas Association (AGA) has filed a lawsuit, along with several trade associations and one manufacturer, to challenge these new regulations. The AGA, which represents over 200 energy companies providing natural gas service to 180 million Americans, argues that the rules will effectively outlaw many furnace models that are still in use by American consumers, potentially impacting as much as 60 percent of furnaces currently in operation.
Biden Admin’s Natural Gas Crackdown Runs Into Legal Challenge: ‘Increased Costs with Little Environmental Gain’ pic.twitter.com/Val4RH9jq8
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The new regulations, set to take effect in 2028, will raise the required efficiency ratings of new furnaces from 80 to 95 percent, making non-condensing gas furnaces, which are generally less efficient but more affordable, no longer available as an option for consumers. The AGA predicts that more than half of American households will be affected by this regulation, leading to higher costs for senior households, small businesses, and low-income households.
The Department of Energy (DOE), on the other hand, claims that the new regulations, when combined with previous ones, will save Americans $570 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.4 billion metric tons over the next 30 years. However, when considering that the U.S. alone accounted for 6.34 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the impact of these regulations on a global scale is minimal.
AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert argues that these new rules will burden American families with increased costs and little environmental gain. She points out that consumers will be forced to choose between retrofitting their homes for electric heating, which comes with increased utility bills, or undergoing a costly and time-consuming renovation to accommodate a different type of natural gas furnace. Harbert claims that regardless of the choice, American families and businesses will bear the brunt of these regulations.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, however, attempts to deflect blame for the impacts of these regulations, claiming that they were mandated by Congress. While the DOE asserts that the regulations are aimed at lowering costs for working families and reducing energy use and pollutants, the AGA argues that the DOE’s own analysis underestimates the negative effects on consumers, particularly seniors, low-income households, and small businesses.
The battle between the AGA and the Biden administration continues, with each side pushing their own narrative and seeking to protect their interests. Only time will tell how this lawsuit will unfold, and how it will ultimately impact American households and the energy industry as a whole.
