WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined a disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block the Department of Energy’s final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards. Unless the resolution passes, the Biden administration’s rule will go into effect on February 16, 2024, forcing manufacturers to sell only furnaces that convert at least 95 percent of fuel into heat. The rule will ban all non-condensing furnace models, forcing a majority of American households to adopt electric heat pumps or else pay thousands of dollars to renovate their homes to meet the requirements of new residential gas furnaces.
Annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) levels currently stand at 80 percent. Over half of the residential furnaces on the market today would be banned if this rule is implemented—all because of the Biden climate agenda. This is another example of the Biden administration reducing consumer choice and costing Americans thousands of hard-earned dollars.
Coach Tuberville joined the letter led by Senator Cruz (R-TX), which was also signed by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Kennedy (R-LA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Eric Schmitt (MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in introducing the resolution. Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) introduced the companion resolution in the House of Representatives alongside Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX).
Read the full text of the resolution here.
BACKGROUND:
Coach Tuberville believes Joe Biden’s overregulation of American energy is driving up prices and killing jobs. Coach Tuberville supports an all-of-the-above approach to American energy, including increasing the use of environmentally-safe and affordable nuclear energy.
In January, Coach Tuberville delivered a floor speech about the importance of the United States embracing nuclear energy.
In a letter, Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in requesting that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan withdraw the Clean Power Plan 2.0 proposed rule.
Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, raising their concern about a proposed rule by the DOE that increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers – critical grid products – at a time when the availability of essential grid components remains a significant challenge for the electric power industry at a time when the industry is struggling due to a substantial increase in demand, supply chain issues, and skilled workforce shortage.
Coach Tuberville also submitted a comment to Secretary Granholm opposing the Administration’s proposed rule to disrupt production of critical distribution transformers, which would inhibit electric utilities’ ability to meet their customers’ needs.
In a floor speech, Coach rejected climate hysteria and encouraged clean domestic energy production.
In 2022, Coach Tuberville introduced the Thorium Energy Security Act to prevent the destruction of Uranium 233 (U-233), a critical element used to produce clean energy.
In another floor speech, Coach Tuberville spoke about the hypocrisy of Left-wing climate activists and the dangers of the energy shortage created by President Biden’s war on fossil fuels.
Coach also introduced the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which would reverse President Biden’s shutdown of the American energy sector and would return American energy to full production.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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