Should Congress eliminate the Dep. of Energy’s restrictions on instantaneous gas water heaters?
This joint resolution aims to block new rules about how energy-efficient gas water heaters need to be. The Department of Energy created rules that would require gas-fired instantaneous water heaters (the kind that heat the water instantly when you need it) to meet certain energy-saving standards, but this resolution would make it so that this rule would not go into effect.
Sponsor: Rep. Gary J. Palmer (Republican, Alabama, District 6)
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Opponents say
• "There may be environmental benefits as well. Overall, emissions could be reduced, the DOE reported. Carbon dioxide, in particular, could drop by 32 million metric tons in the three decades after the final rule takes effect, the DOE estimated. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions could also be reduced. A “small increase in electricity use,” could, however, lead to an increase of mercury emissions, equating to about 0.0004 tons." Source: Article in The Hill
Proponents say
• "In his final days in power, Biden is continuing his regulatory attack on American homes. This radical ban on gas water heaters proves that the administration’s focus is on furthering an agenda instead of what is best for the American people,” said Rep. Palmer. “This is another example of how out of touch the Democrats are with the average American family. If this rule takes effect, it will be another hidden tax that disproportionately harms the elderly and low-income populations. The American people deserve better. My Republican colleagues and I will work to roll back these egregious regulations so we can lower energy costs and end the Democrats’ overreaching policies." Source: Rep. Gary Palmer (Republican, Alabama, District 6)
• "The National Propane Gas Association and its members are deeply appreciative of Representative Palmer's leadership in taking decisive action to roll back the Biden Administration's last-minute rulemaking, which threatens to eliminate the non-condensing instantaneous gas water heaters market. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which underpins this rulemaking, clearly states that the Department of Energy is prohibited from issuing regulations that are economically unjustifiable. However, this rule would compel families to replace their existing equipment with unnecessary expensive retrofits, imposing an undue financial burden for a marginal level of energy savings and questionable economic benefits. We call on Congress and the White House to support this Congressional Review Act resolution to safeguard working families." Source: Steve Kaminski, President and CEO of the National Propane Gas Association
