Biden admin receives backlash from nearly two dozen groups for move cracking down on gas stoves

A coalition of 18 energy and consumer advocacy organizations are filing comments with the Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday, arguing the agency's rules cracking down on gas stoves

Led by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), the groups argued the regulations on stovetops, which the DOE introduced in early February, would compromise consumer choice and are therefore "arbitrary and capricious" while having minimal impact on climate change. The comment letter largely focused on compliance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) which mandates the federal government implement energy efficiency measures while not harming consumer choice.

"EPCA does not mandate a new energy conservation standard for cooking products, but permits one only if it benefits consumers. This is not the case here," the groups wrote. "The proposed rule would almost certainly compromise some of the features that gas stove users want, and all for the sake of saving an insignificant amount of energy." 

"The agency’s exaggerated claims of climate change benefits do not alter the fact that proposed rule violates the consumer protections in the statute," they continued. "For these reasons, we believe the proposed rule should be withdrawn."

According to the letter, the EPCA prohibits the DOE from setting an efficiency standard that would "sacrifice any desired product characteristics." 

However, the stovetop rule would likely limit the use of so-called high input rate burners which are larger burners often used for boiling water, searing or stir-frying. It would also limit gas stoves from utilizing smaller low-heat burners used for simmering, meaning the overall range of burner types on stoves would be narrowed considerably.

In addition, the DOE rule proposes to limit stoves' heavy or continuous grates which are often cast iron and used for handling heavier pots.

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