Score another one for President Biden
The Trump administration was not exactly a proponent of energy efficiency. When President Barack Obama left office, Trump overturned new rules that would have required certain common light bulbs to be energy efficient, claiming he was saving Americans from what would have been skyrocketing prices. In another greatest hit, Trump declared in 2019 that we’re all flushing our toilets “10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once” and that his EPA was looking into fixing that supposed problem.
With the Biden administration now steering the ship, America is becoming more energy efficient. In addition, President Joe Biden’s leadership is demonstrating that energy efficiency can be a money-saving proposition.
This week the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a new rule aimed at improving lightbulb efficiency, helping the environment while also bringing financial relief to American families. Specifically, the rule would bring consumer savings of $20 billion and lower carbon emissions by 131 million metric tons over 30 years.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration set a goal of taking 100 actions in 2022 to improve energy efficiency standards and lower costs. As this year comes to a close, the new lightbulb efficiency rule marks the administration’s 110th action, reflecting a government that exceeds its own high standards for bringing economic relief while saving the planet.
The DOE’s 110 actions in 2022 include proposed and final standards as well as test procedures and coverage determinations that will enable the agency to issue even stronger efficiency standards. Looking ahead to 2023, Biden’s DOE has already cued up 30 proposed and final rules promoting energy efficiency across several categories. In the meantime, Donald Trump’s legacy is what’s getting flushed again and again down the toilet.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month