Trump weighing executive order protecting gas stoves, sources say

Two sources familiar with Trump's plans say that the President-elect is considering an executive order to protect gas appliances, such as stoves and heaters, from federal and state regulators who are trying to phase out these appliances in homes and businesses.

Republicans, including Trump have spent the past few years attacking local Democratic attempts to limit gas-powered devices in new construction projects due to environmental and health concerns.

The U.S. Consumer

In 2023, regulators will say that.

It was reviewing gas appliances, and their links to respiratory conditions like asthma. However, it noted that any regulations would be a long process.

Sources said that while the details of the executive order were still being discussed, they would likely mirror Congressional efforts that limit federal funds for state and local initiatives which restrict gas-powered appliances.

The transition team of Donald Trump did not respond when asked for comment.

In recent years, gas-powered stoves have been a favorite of cooks who enjoy high heat and fast cooking. They've joined plastic straws as a source of controversy in the U.S. Culture Wars between liberals and conservatives like Trump, and business groups.

Karen Harbert of the American Gas Association (an industry trade group) said in a press release that it speaks volumes that an order from White House was needed to stop the government from banning gas water heaters and furnaces. "Despite illegal attempts to ban the access and use natural gas, our sector is working hard to keep essential energy affordable and reliable, especially during the extreme winter we are currently experiencing."

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's most recent residential energy survey, published in 2020, over 75 million U.S. homes use natural gas as a fuel for at least one appliance. This is mostly used for water or home heating.

In addition to cooking and drying clothes, the survey revealed that an increasing number of Americans use natural gas for these purposes. The survey found that 47 million households will use natural gas to cook in 2020, up 39 million from 2015.

The survey revealed that roughly two of five American households have a gas-fired stove.

PREMATURE DEATHS

Gas appliances were initially criticized for their climate-changing effects. However, in recent years, several studies have revealed that they emit harmful nitrogen oxides to the human body along with other planet warming gases.

Researchers at the Jaume I University, Castello de la Plana in Spain, conducted a study in which they found that gas stove pollution was responsible for 40,000 premature deaths in Europe and Britain each year.

Dozens of Democratic-controlled cities, including San Francisco and Berkeley, California, have sought to restrict new buildings from using gas stoves as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality. New York State approved a bill last month that bans natural gas stoves and heaters in new buildings.

These policies have been challenged in court. Berkeley, the city that was the first to implement such a policy, had its policy halted by an appeals court decision in 2023. The rule was repealed last year.

S&P Global reports that in response to these policies, more than 20 Republican led states have passed legislation prohibiting local governments from restricting the gas in buildings.

Under President Joe Biden's leadership, the Energy Department proposed a rule that would require both gas and electrical stoves and cooktops use more efficient designs. However, they scaled back their plan in response to Republican and industry criticism.

(source: Reuters)