Sixteen AGs Filed Petition for Review of Energy Department’s Rollback of Lightbulb Efficiency Standards

New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the Energy Department’s rollback of energy efficiency standards for a wide range of commonly-used lightbulbs, such as those used in some recessed lighting fixtures, chandeliers and ceiling fans. The lawsuit challenged a revised definition finalized by the Energy Department that excludes a wide range of lightbulbs from stronger efficiency requirements set to take effect at the end of this year. The rollback affects approximately half of the 6 billion lightbulbs currently in use in American homes, and is estimated to forgo savings of at least $12 billion in annual electricity costs — which translates to nearly $100 per household per year — as well as 34 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.