Biden's scurvy-ridden quest be set on plunderin' 4 more shiploads o' appliances from us poor consumers!
2023-12-27
Arrr, me hearties! Methinks the scurvy dogs of Team Biden be not content with pillagin' the stoves from us humble consumers. Nay, they be expandin' their plunderin' ways, targetin' four more types o' appliances in their treacherous war!+
In the language of a 17th-century pirate, the year 2023 was a calamitous one for appliance regulations. The situation is not looking much better for future years unless Congress steps in to put an end to the madness. It all began with the Consumer Product Safety Commission's investigation into the safety of natural gas stoves, which sparked a strong consumer backlash. The Biden administration denied any plans for a ban on gas stoves, but the investigation continued. In February, the administration launched a new Department of Energy efficiency standard that heavily targeted gas stoves. This attack on natural gas is part of their climate change agenda. But it's not just gas stoves that are being affected. Dishwashers, already subjected to multiple rounds of energy and water usage limits, now take longer to clean dishes and have seen a decline in performance. The same goes for washing machines, which now use so little water that consumers have had to find workarounds to get their clothes clean. The DOE is proposing even stricter regulations for these appliances, claiming they will benefit consumers and fight climate change. Residential central air conditioners are also being hit by regulations, resulting in increased costs and even flammability risks. The recently finalized efficiency standard for furnaces will disproportionately affect low-income homeowners. Thankfully, Congress is starting to fight back, passing bills to preemptively rescind stove regulations and considering doing the same for other appliances. While it won't be easy to repeal these regulations, initiating the fight now will pave the way for corrective measures in the future.