A new proposal from the Energy Department about safety standards for gas stoves has reignited a culture war battle about public safety.
Key Details
- As we previously reported, gas-powered stove ovens became a hot topic for partisan discussion last month following comments by federal safety commissioner, Richard Trumka Jr., saying they are tied to breathing problems in children and have adverse health effects and contribute to climate change—and ought to be banned.
- The debate is igniting again now as the Energy Department proposed new safety standards for gas-powered stoves on Wednesday, saying, “we are not proposing bans” but instead proposing tightening efficiency standards after 2027, which would mean new stoves would need to meet the efficiency standards equivalent to some already on the market.
- Republican and Democrat lawmakers have responded to the proposal by attempting to push legislation. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) proposed the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act on Thursday.
- Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has proposed a permanent sales tax holiday on multiple items, including gas stoves, as part of his new Framework For Freedom state budget.
Why It’s News
The Federal government has deliberated on the adverse effects of gas stoves for the past several months. The Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that stove ovens emit gasses that can be harmful to children and result in issues such as asthma. The burning of gas creates emissions concerns for environmentalists.
An October White House memo obtained by Fox News shows that the Biden administration had been considering a total ban on new gas stoves, noting that the Commission “has the responsibility to ban consumer products that emit hazardous substances, particularly, when those emissions harm children, under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.”
The proposal for a complete ban was immediately walked back by the Commission following public backlash and bipartisan criticism. However, notable progressives like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) noted that stove ovens present a moderate statistical issue and continue to have adverse effects.
Notable Quotes
“The Department of Energy has tentatively concluded that the proposed standards represent the maximum improvement in energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified and would result in the significant conservation of energy,” says the proposal.
“Make no mistake, radical environmentalists want to stop Americans from using natural gas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s proposed ban on gas stoves is the latest egregious scaremongering by the Far Left and their Biden administration allies,” says Senator Cruz.
