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EXCLUSIVE: Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., opposes the Biden administration’s regulations targeting popular home appliances, including natural gas ovens and stoves.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Manchin criticized the Department of Energy (DOE) for its aggressive energy efficiency regulation, arguing that the agency should allow the free market to improve product technology rather than force such changes through enforced through regulation. Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, expressed concern over rules aimed at electrifying gas appliances.
“It definitely shows how loose the (DOE) is with the facts and realities of what is happening with the power grid,” Manchin told Fox News Digital. “We’ve had so many warnings from (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) and everyone else that the power grid is under stress, to say the least.”
“And we’re getting more adjustable power from the grid. That means 24/7, mostly fossil – because of this government’s move. It puts us in the danger zone, the grid,” he continued. “With all the movement and demand for more electrical appliances that would take the place of gas, be it a stove or an oven. It makes absolutely no sense and is out of touch with reality. Absolutely not.”
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Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In recent months, the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has unveiled new standards for a wide variety of appliances, including washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners and dishwashers. The government boasted in December that it had taken 110 measures on energy efficiency rules in 2022 alone as part of its climate agenda.
In particular, the agency has focused on gas-powered appliances in an effort to curb carbon emissions and address global warming. Climate activists have argued that electrification, banning natural gas connections and implementing strict energy efficiency standards could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, but experts have expressed concern that such a shift could strain the power grid and lead to higher consumer costs.
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In February, the DOE proposed gas stove regulations that, if implemented, would eliminate an estimated 50% of current stove models on the market. And the agency is expected to soon finalize regulations for gas ovens that are expected to wipe out 60% of current models.
“You can’t eliminate your way to a cleaner environment,” Manchin said. “It’s not going to work. It’s not feasible. It won’t be done. The rest of the world will not follow suit and Asia will produce about 90% of all pollution in the next decade. If you want a clean environment, you have to do it through technology and innovation.”
The Biden administration is expected to soon finalize its proposed regulations that would take 60% of lower-cost gas furnace models off the market. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images | George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“People want efficiency, but they also want reliability,” the West Virginia senator added. “If I can buy something that I’ve been using to replace it and it’ll do the same thing, if not better, and do it cleaner and cheaper, then there’s no problem there. The market will change. But forcing it, thinking you people is going to penalize and force before the technology is there – I said if it’s not feasible, it’s not reasonable.”
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In February, Manchin and Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced the Gas stove protection and liberty law which would prevent new federal regulations from restricting which gas stoves Americans can buy. Manchin said he expects the bill to eventually be voted on with Democratic support.
“Telling me that I can’t buy something because you want the market to change and switch to something else and it won’t have any relevant change in environment is absolutely ridiculous,” Manchin continued. “Then you get all the setbacks. I’m going to push back.”
“I can assure you in our committee, we don’t support any craziness.”
Thomas Catenacci is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
