Thirteen AGs Filed Comments Opposing Energy Department’s Proposed Rollback of Efficiency Standards for Furnaces and Water Heaters

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 13 attorneys general in submitting comments opposing a proposed rule by the Energy Department that would unlawfully delay improved efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces and commercial hot water heaters issued during the Obama administration. In their comments, the attorneys general emphasized that the Energy Department’s own estimates show that the commercial hot water heater standards proposed in 2016, and now being rolled back, would “save commercial consumers up to $6.8 billion, and reduce CO2 emissions by 98 million metric tons over 30 years of sales.” The coalition warned that the department’s proposal would revert to efficiency standards adopted in 2007, which already are being met by “99% of furnaces sold.” The attorneys general also emphasized that their states rely on the Energy Department to “fulfill its statutory duty to develop and adopt aggressive standards,” and warned that the proposal will “hamper state and municipal energy efficiency, clean energy, and climate goals.”