A group representing over 200 natural gas supply companies is suing the Biden administration. The group supplies gas to almost half of the American population and is suing over new regulations on gas-powered furnaces.
According to the group, the new regulations would negatively impact both suppliers and American consumers.
The American Gas Association comprises over 200 energy companies “that provide natural gas service to 180 million Americans. According to Fox News reports, it filed a suit against the government last Monday, alongside “several trade associations and one manufacturer.” The lawsuit claims that the new Department of Energy regulations make about 60 percent of furnace models illegal, even though Americans still use them.
Also, the new regulations will see the required efficiency ratings of new furnaces rise from 80 to 95 percent. According to Fox, the rules are set to go into effect in 2028. This means that non-condensing gas furnaces, which are typically cheaper but less efficient, will no longer be on the market for consumers.
Furthermore, the AGA predicts that the new rules will affect more than 50 percent of American homes. As a result, it would “lead to higher costs for 30% of senior households, 27% of small businesses and 26% of low-income households,” Fox reported. However, the Department of Energy disagrees.
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The DOE claims that the new rules will only improve on the previous ones. It will “save Americans $570 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.4 billion metric tons over the next 30 years,” Fox said. EPA data shows that the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 6.34 billion metric tons in 2021.
Also, Statista says that the U.S. is responsible for about 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This means that the global impact during the Biden administration will be about one-fifth of 1 percent between now and 2053. If the DOE’s figures are correct, its regulations will affect 1.26 percent of U.S. emissions over the coming 30 years.
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AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert released a statement last Monday. She said that if they enforced the rules, Americans would have to bear a rise in prices with little environmental gain. “This ruling from DOE will push American families with natural gas heat into a corner — when their furnace goes out, they’ll be forced to choose between retrofitting for electric with the increased month-to-month utility bills that entails or engaging in a costly and time-consuming renovation to retrofit their home for a completely different type of natural gas furnace,” she said.
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On the other hand, President Biden’s energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, tried to blame Congress for the effects of the new regulations. “At the direction of Congress, DOE is continuing to review and finalize energy standards for household appliances, such as residential furnaces, to lower costs for working families by reducing energy use and slashing harmful pollutants in homes across the nation,” she said the new regulations were finalized on Sept. 29, according to Fox.
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