U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) signed a disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) recently that would block the Department of Energy's (DOE) final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards.
Unless the resolution is passed, President Joe Biden's rule will force manufacturers to sell only furnace models that convert at least 95% of their fuel into heat. The rule will also ban all non-condensing furnace models, which Tuberville says will force a majority of households, including those in Alabama, to adopt electric heat pumps or be forced to pay thousands of dollars to renovate their homes to meet the standards.
Tuberville said this is another overregulation of American energy by Biden and will lead to higher prices and kill jobs. He suggested an all-of-the-above approach to energy, including increasing the use of environmentally safe nuclear power.
Tuberville gave a speech on the Senate floor about the importance of nuclear energy in January.
The Republican senator from Alabama joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, raising their concern about a proposed rule 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.
Tuberville also sent a comment to the DOE secretary that opposes the Biden administration's proposed rule to disrupt the production of critical distribution transformers, which would inhibit electric utilities' ability to meet their customers' needs.
North Alabama residents recently witnessed this firsthand during the freezing temperatures in January when TVA called for residents to lower their electrical consumption due to the extremely high demand on their system. While TVA had announced prior to the freeze the multimillion-dollar investments they had made to shore up their grid, these issues persist.
The common attack on nuclear and natural gas energy comes from climate alarmists, but Tuberville rejects the climate hysteria and, in another floor speech, he encouraged more clean domestic production.
Tuberville said, "I am calling for common sense solutions: let American companies produce more energy, recognize the benefits of clean energy like natural gas and nuclear, and stop scaring people into depression by warning of a great climate extinction."
The joint resolution has until February 16 to pass. If successful, it will prevent the rule from going into effect.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email Bradley.cox@1819news.com.
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