by Zero Hedge
Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Wednesday announced a plan to exempt gas stoves and other gas appliances from state sales tax, a move which follows weeks of debate over whether the Biden administration was serious about banning them (they were).
“No tax permanently on gas stoves,” said DeSantis. “They want your gas stove and we’re not going to let that happen.”
The move comes as the Department of Energy proposed new efficiency rules for natural gas stoves and other consumer cooking appliances. The proposal would set limits on energy consumption for gas stoves, and overall energy usage standards on both electric and gas stoves and ovens.
DeSantis’ plan was included in his new budget – the first of his second term. Among the many breaks for taxpayers would be a permanent $7 million exemption on appliances fueled by combustible gas – including propane, butane, liquefied petroleum, natural gas and syngas.
In January, Richard Trumka Jr. from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, discussed the possibility of a ban on gas stoves. He later walked back his statement, tweeting “To be clear, CPSC isn’t coming for anyone’s gas stoves. Regulations apply to new products. For Americans who CHOOSE to switch from gas to electric, there is support available — Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes a $840 rebate.”
As MarketWatch notes, California already bans gas appliances from new residential construction projects, while New York City will impose a similar ban starting next year. Chicago’s mayor Lori Lightfoot is proposing to do the same.
A host of Republicans — along with some Democrats from fossil-fuel-producing states, including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia — were inflamed at the prospect of a gas-stove ban, and many pointed fingers at the Biden administration. -MarketWatch
Following outrage over the possibility of a gas stove ban, Republicans (and Joe Manchin (D-WV)) slammed the Biden administration – causing White House spox Karine Jean-Pierre to clarify that the CPSC is an independent body, and that Biden doesn’t back a ban on gas stoves.
Except an internal memo dated Oct. 25, 2022 revealed that the Biden administration was serious about banning natural gas powered stoves prior to national outrage over the idea.
In the memo dated Oct. 25, 2022, Richard Trumka Jr. — whom President Biden appointed to serve on the five-person Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) — wrote to a fellow commissioner that there was sufficient evidence for the agency to move forward with a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) to ban gas stoves in the near future. Trumka’s memo was titled, “NPR Proposing Ban on Gas Stoves (Indoor Air Quality).”
“The need for gas stove regulation has reached a boiling point,” the CPSC commissioner wrote in the October memo. “CPSC has the responsibility to ban consumer products that emit hazardous substances, particularly, when those emissions harm children, under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.”
“Emerging evidence is sufficient to conclude that gas stoves in homes emit toxic gasses that cause illness and that lower-cost, safer alternatives are available,” Trumka added. -Fox News
Months after the memo was sent, Trumka made his comments to Bloomberg, saying that “any option is on the table.”
More on the DoE’s proposed efficiency rules via The Epoch Times,
Industry Responds
After the proposed rule was issued Wednesday, officials with natural gas industry groups expressed alarm.
“We are concerned that this is another attempt by the federal government to use regulations to remove viable and efficient natural gas products from the market,” Karen Harbert, president of the American Gas Association, told Bloomberg News
A spokesperson for another trade group expressed alarm over the proposed rule.
“This approach by the DOE could effectively ban gas appliances,” said Jill Notini, vice president, communications and marketing, at the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, according to the outlet. “We are concerned this approach could eliminate fully featured gas products.”
Some states and localities, meanwhile, have already proposed bans on installing new gas appliances and furnaces in newly constructed homes, sparking more alarm.
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