WP: Energy Department Slow to Mandate Efficiency

[DeepModem Mom]

Energy Dept. Slow to Mandate Efficiency
Standards for Some Appliances Years Late; Process Blamed
By Justin Blum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 22, 2005; Page E01


In the late 1980s, Congress began an effort to mandate better energy efficiency, setting minimum standards for household and commercial appliances, and deadlines for the Energy Department to decide whether to strengthen them.

But for more than a dozen products, the department has missed its legal deadlines -- in some cases by as much as 13 years.

Members of Congress, efficiency advocates and some businesses say the department's failure to act on a range of products -- such as ovens, dishwashers, commercial air conditioners and natural gas furnaces -- is costing millions of dollars in higher energy costs, polluting the environment and increasing reliance on foreign energy. Manufacturers, who in some cases oppose higher efficiency standards, saying they would cost too much, also are frustrated by the delays.

Energy Department officials said the Bush administration supports the concept of minimum efficiency standards to reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas and fuel oil, but that a complex evaluation process has caused lengthy delays. When setting standards, the department is supposed to establish the highest level of efficiency that it determines to be economically justified and technologically feasible....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A27783-2005Jan21?language=printer

[UL_Approved]

1. This is just an excuse

It is always amazing how companies always manage to find some way to meet the standards.

The economic excuse has been used against all sorts of regulations and other things. It was even used to justify segregation in the South. There is no reason that better products can't be made except for total greed on behalf of many members of business and industry.

[cosmicdot]

2. what has Spencer Abraham been doing the last 4 years?

collecting a paycheck and a gov't pension as the Dept.'s Secretary?

I didn't see his name even mentioned in the article.


"Energy Department officials said the Bush administration supports the concept........"

~however~

"While some standards have been issued since then, only one has been adopted during the Bush administration: for residential air conditioners. That regulation was adopted only after the administration lost a court case brought by advocates and states that complained it improperly rescinded a standard set in the final days of the Clinton administration and put in place a weaker one."

~snip~

"The Bush administration says one thing while doing another," said Rep. Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who was a sponsor of the 1987 standards legislation. "While they proclaim to be concerned about saving energy, they continue to delay implementing reforms that could save consumers and businesses billions of dollars a year in energy prices."

now, that's the real story