On Wednesday, Yahoo News reported:
(The Center Square) — New York could be moving ahead with a first-in-the-nation ban on natural gas hookups in new buildings after a federal appeals court rejected a challenge from industry groups.
The ruling issued Tuesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals Second Circuit rejected a lawsuit by natural gas industry groups challenging a provision of New York’s All-Electric Buildings Act, which would ban gas hookups in new buildings under seven stories, among other restrictions.
A coalition of construction and trade groups sued to block the 2023 law, saying it conflicts with federal law under the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act and would drive up costs for businesses and energy consumers.
But the appeals court upheld lower court rulings that had determined federal law “does not preempt ” the state’s regulations on natural gas hook ups, and on Tuesday dismissed the industry lawsuit.
It’s gets interesting when the Federal Government steps in.
On Thursday, Legal Insurrection reported:
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced his department wants to eliminate the stupid appliance mandates.
“U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today announced the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to permanently end home appliance and equipment mandates that raise costs and disrupt consumer choice,” according to a press release. “The proposal will update the Department’s Process Rule used to establish energy conservation standards for household appliances and equipment, including air conditioning units, gas stoves, washing and drying machines, water heaters, refrigerators, and other products Americans rely on every day.”
FOX News was the first to report the move.
“In America, you should be able to choose a dryer that dries clothes on the first try rather than one that takes multiple cycles—unfortunately, past administrations thought otherwise,” Secretary Wright said. “For too long, the American people paid the price for mandates that restricted consumer choice and drove up costs. President Trump promised to end this nonsense and that is exactly what we are doing.”
I am so tired of low-pressure shower heads. I take longer to do the dishes, even rinsing them, due to my new kitchen faucet. Don’t even get me started on toilets, especially when you’re sick.
So while New York State is limiting gas stoves, the U.S. Secretary of Energy is working toward appliance freedom for Americans. And we wonder why people are leaving New York! I would love to go back to having a dishwasher that finishes in an hour.