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The Trump administration is pushing to dismantle decades of established energy and water efficiency standards, sparking controversy and accusations of legal violations. This move is being described as the administration’s “largest deregulatory effort in history.”
Sweeping Rollbacks Proposed
The Department of Energy is targeting 47 regulations deemed “burdensome and costly,” including over a dozen appliance and battery charger efficiency standards. These proposed changes primarily focus on the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), specifically attempting to circumvent its “anti-backsliding” provision.
Critics Allege Illegality
Critics, like Andrew deLaski from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, argue these rollbacks are “patently illegal” and will raise costs for families by flooding the market with energy- and water-wasting products.
The Energy Department has not yet addressed concerns about violating EPCA, which prohibits weakening efficiency standards. However, proposed rule drafts suggest a return to previous limits set by Congress, potentially undoing years of progress in energy and water conservation.
Impact on Consumers and the Environment
These changes could significantly impact various appliances, including commercial clothes washers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and faucets. For example, water conservation standards for commercial clothes washers might revert to 2007 levels.
The anti-backsliding provision prevents the Energy Secretary from amending standards in ways that increase energy use or decrease energy efficiency. However, the agency argues that water standards for certain appliances are separate from energy consumption and, therefore, not subject to this provision.
Legal Challenges Anticipated
The proposed rules will undergo a period of public comment and are likely to face legal challenges. Previous court decisions have affirmed the strength of EPCA’s anti-backsliding provision.
Kit Kennedy, an attorney involved in a 2004 case on this matter, calls the move “the wholesale abandonment of a dozen-plus energy efficiency standards without any justification.”
Wider Trend of Deregulation
This action aligns with a recent presidential memorandum targeting water use rules and related energy efficiency standards, along with the EPA’s plan to reduce the Energy Star program.
Potential Consequences
Experts warn that these rollbacks could lead to higher utility bills for consumers. While programs like Energy Star help consumers choose efficient appliances, the targeted standards ensure that efficient technologies are accessible to everyone.
Michael Gerrard from Columbia University notes, “Appliance energy efficiency standards have been a great success. They save households on their electricity bills every month. Refrigerators are just as cold and just as large as they ever were but they are now much cheaper to run.”