SE Wyoming News

Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis, along with Senator Ted Cruz and 15 other members of the Senate Western Caucus, has introduced a resolution of disapproval to block the U.S. Department of Energy's final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards. The rule, set to go into effect on February 16, 2024, mandates that furnaces must convert at least 95% of fuel into heat, effectively banning non-condensing furnace models.

Lummis expressed her concern about the Biden administration's approach, stating, "This administration has made it crystal clear that it will stop at nothing to fulfill its extreme Green New Deal agenda, even if that comes at the expense of the people of Wyoming." She further emphasized that the new requirements would force working-class families and small businesses to spend thousands of dollars on renovations or switch to electric heat pumps.

Senator Cruz also voiced his opposition to the rule, stating, "This administration doesn't care that their radical climate agenda will have a catastrophic impact on American families and small businesses." He pledged to do everything in his power to push back against the rule, which he believes prioritizes the "radical left's fringe climate agenda" over the needs of the American people.

The resolution has garnered support from several other senators, including James Risch, Dan Sullivan, Pete Ricketts, Mike Crapo, James Lankford, Mike Lee, Steve Daines, Chuck Grassley, John Hoeven, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin Cramer, Deb Fischer, Mike Rounds, Roger Marshall, and Eric Schmidt.

The resolution, introduced under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), aims to prevent the implementation of the gas furnace efficiency standards. The senators argue that this rule represents a gross and unjustified overreach by the Biden administration. They believe that individuals should have the freedom to choose the kind of appliances they want in their homes, without being subjected to burdensome regulations.

The full text of the resolution can be found [here](insert link).

As the debate over the gas furnace efficiency standards continues, it remains to be seen how the resolution of disapproval will fare in Congress. The outcome of this issue will undoubtedly have significant implications for American households and businesses, as well as the broader conversation surrounding climate change and energy efficiency.