CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office has joined a coalition of 18 AGs in a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy raising concerns over the agency’s proposed new rule involving refrigerators and freezers.
The department made the proposal public in February 2023 and recently finalized the more stringent sets of energy efficiency standards for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers. The rules are expected to take effect in 2027.
“This administration again relied on bad data and ran with it to further its radical climate change agenda,” Morrisey said. “Now these unelected bureaucrats are trying to get in your kitchens and overregulate them to advance Biden’s radical green new deal.
“Most disconcerting is the lack of consideration for the average consumer, who undoubtedly will be most affected by appliance price hikes due to the new regulations.”
In the letter, the AGs spell out what they call flaws in the new standards, including misguided data and statutory issues.
“The Energy Policy and Conservation Act grants DOE the power to regulate refrigerators and freezers for energy conservation,” the May 6 letter states. “However, these regulations are not limitless. DOE must consider the economic burden levied upon consumers and manufacturers.
“Finally, DOE may issue a direct final rule regarding regulations if a joint statement is submitted by interested persons that are fairly representative of the relevant points of view …
“DOE has a hard job balancing the interests of so many Americans. No one contests otherwise. But the undersigned states request that DOE seriously reevaluate its direct final rule in light of this comment. DOE’s regulations will cause Americans distaste toward government agencies, leaving many with increased expenses in their kitchens.”
The coalition is asking the department to “seriously reevaluate its direct final rule in light of this comment. DOE’s regulations will cause Americans distaste toward government agencies, leaving many with increased expenses in their kitchens.”
Last year, Morrisey also joined a letter to the department raising issues on a similar proposal, which included new rules for residential clothes washers.
Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti is leading the letter. West Virginia joined along with Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
