Former President Donald Trump vowed to reverse Biden-era energy efficiency standards for household products like light bulbs, showerheads and washing machines, arguing they limit consumer choice.
Kelsey Tamborrino reports for POLITICO.
In short:
- Trump announced plans to reinstate his previous administration’s regulations on water flow and appliance efficiency, calling Biden’s rules federal overreach.
- The Department of Energy under Biden finalized rules that increased efficiency standards for appliances and effectively phased out incandescent light bulbs.
- Trump’s Energy Secretary Chris Wright has ordered a review of Biden-era efficiency regulations, promising a “commonsense approach” focused on affordability.
Key quote:
“The Department will pursue a commonsense approach that does not regulate products that consumers value out of the market; instead, affordability and consumer choice will be our guiding light.”
— Chris Wright, U.S. Department of Energy secretary
Why this matters:
Energy efficiency standards have long been a quiet but powerful tool in reducing emissions, lowering household energy bills and easing pressure on aging power grids. These regulations cover everything from household appliances to vehicle fuel economy, ensuring that products use less energy while delivering the same—or better—performance. Higher energy consumption means bigger utility bills, while an increased reliance on fossil fuels could set back emissions reduction efforts. For power grids already under strain from extreme weather and rising electricity demand, weakened efficiency rules could make reliability challenges even worse.
Related: Some states are falling behind on energy efficiency policies
