The Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed a new standard that could eliminate half of the current gas cooking appliances from the US market. The proposed standard is a maximum annual gas consumption of 1,204 thousand British thermal units (kBtu), also known as the EL 2 standard, for all gas cooking tops. CLICK THROUGH FOR MORE
When Would It Take Place?
If implemented, the new rule would take effect three years after its adoption.
Current Gas Stove Usage
The DOE “estimates that nearly half of the total gas cooking top market currently achieves EL 2 and therefore would not be impacted by the proposed standard if finalized.”
Attempt to Eliminate Gas Products
However, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is “very concerned” about the direction of the DOE and plans to conduct its own analysis. Jill Notini, an industry spokesperson for AHAM, said, “Clearly, the Department of Energy’s intentions are to eliminate gas products from the market. And they should just say that instead of releasing a deceptive and flawed analysis to justify their proposal.”
Consumers Right to Choice
AHAM, a trade association representing the manufacturers of household appliances sold in the United States, believes that consumers should have the choice of purchasing either a gas or electric product. “What we believe is that products right now in the market would need significant redesign in order to meet the proposed levels,” said Notini. When asked if they plan to take legal action against the proposed regulation, AHAM officials said, “Everything is on the table.”
The Rulemaking Process
The DOE initiated the rulemaking process of potential regulation on gas cooking tops in 2014, and the Biden administration resumed the process in February 2022 after the Trump administration halted it in December 2020.
The rulemaking process has been disputed in the courts, as six organizations, including some environmental groups and some blue states, filed two separate lawsuits in an attempt to force the Trump administration to regulate the gas cooking tops. AHAM was one of the plaintiff intervenors in both cases.
Regulation Deadline
In September 2022, a US district judge ordered the DOE to issue regulations on conventional cooking products or determine that no regulation is needed by Jan. 31, 2024.
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