The 2024 regulation sought to abolish gas-powered furnaces, water heaters, and stoves.
The Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling this week that upheld the Energy Department’s 2024 rule, which would have abolished gas-fired appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, and kitchen stoves and ovens. The D.C. District Court had ruled in favor of the ban on non-condensing appliances, which would have removed gas appliances from the U.S. marketplace.
The American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, and National Propane Gas Association had petitioned the Supreme Court, stating, “The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) prohibits the Department of Energy from adopting efficiency standards that ban consumer access to appliances with distinct performance characteristics.“
The plaintiffs continued, “In this case, the Department adopted standards abolishing gas-fired furnaces and water heaters that work with existing venting systems in millions of homes and buildings across the country. These standards will force consumers to either renovate their homes or switch to electric appliances.”
Justice Department Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in his Supreme Court brief, “The Department may not adopt standards that effectively eliminate from the market products that have distinct ‘performance characteristics.'”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the justices of the Supreme Court as they consider appeals to lower court opinions and deliberate on the remaining decisions for outstanding cases they have heard this term.
- For wisdom for Energy Department officials as they assess environmental impacts and regulations for appliances.
- For DOJ officials as they file briefs and argue positions before the federal courts.
Sources: Breaking Christian News, Newsbusters, Washington Examiner
