Biden's Natural Gas Water Heater Ban Sparks Criticism for Impact on Low-Income Households
USA: As President Biden's time in office draws to a close, his administration continues to prioritize progressive policies over the needs of everyday people.
The latest move involves banning certain natural gas water heaters as part of an anti-climate change strategy. Critics argue that this will drive up energy costs for low-income and senior households.
According to Fox Business, the new regulations will remove non-condensing, natural gas-fired water heaters from the market by 2029 in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the new rules will require tankless gas water heaters to be about 13% more energy-efficient than current models.
Biden’s rules raise efficiency standards to a level that only condensing models can meet, effectively banning the cheaper, less efficient non-condensing models, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon. This means consumers will be forced to purchase more expensive models or opt for less efficient, non-instantaneous storage tank water heaters, which are less efficient than the banned models.
The price difference is significant: Rinnai America’s non-condensing tankless gas water heater sells for around $1,000 at Home Depot, while a condensing 75-gallon tank costs approximately $1,800.
For those who embraced Biden’s push for electric vehicles, the new rule may seem appealing—especially for those who can afford it. However, for low-income households, it signals yet another instance where the concerns of everyday Americans appear to be overlooked. Recently, Biden's clemency actions also raised eyebrows, as he commuted the sentences of opioid traffickers and reduced death row sentences for 37 out of 40 inmates, raising further questions about his priorities beyond progressive circles.
Source: Fox Business