Trump hits Biden on last-minute energy crackdown, promises to roll back on day one

President-elect Donald Trump The United States objected to environmental regulations enacted by President Biden on his way out of office, and vowed Tuesday to reverse those policies when he takes office later this month.

At a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump mocked Biden’s pledge for a smooth transition of power as mere “talk,” referring to a series of last-minute executive orders Biden announced before leaving the White House. On Monday, Biden imposed a permanent ban on new oil and gas exploration across US coastal and offshore waters in an area spanning about 625 million acres. The Biden administration also announced new standards for gas water heaters that Trump criticized as “worse” than the oil drilling ban.

“Another thing he did yesterday, which was worse in so many ways — it’s hard to believe it could be worse — he wants to take all the gas heaters out of your homes and apartments. He wants to replace them with essentially electric heaters. I don’t know what the deal is with electric,” Trump said. “This man loves electricity.”

“We will end the electric vehicle mandate,” he added, moving from criticizing Biden’s support for green energy to extolling the virtues of gas heaters and showers without restrictions on water flow.

California is rekindling the war on gas stoves with its newly proposed law

Trump’s comments come after a report indicated he is considering issuing an executive order that would protect gas-powered appliances, including stoves and heaters, from federal and local regulators who want to phase out fossil fuels.

Democratic efforts to limit gas-powered appliances have come under criticism from Republicans in recent years.

The Biden administration sparked controversy in 2023 after US Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. suggested the government could ban gas stoves, which allegedly emit pollutants. Which causes respiratory and health problems.

Two sources familiar with Trump’s thinking told Reuters that Trump’s potential executive order would reverse congressional efforts to limit federal funding for state and local initiatives that restrict gas-powered appliances or impose regulations that would increase their cost.

Gas stoves: Trade group ‘concerned’ about DOE proposal on cooking appliances

the Trump transition team She did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

Gas stoves, favored by chefs who like fast, high heat, have been targeted by progressives who want to limit climate change by limiting choices for consumers, and are defended by Republicans like Trump and business groups who want free markets to decide.

“It is clear when a White House order is needed to prevent our government from banning natural gas furnaces and water heaters,” Karen Harbert, president of the American Gas Association, an industry trade group, said in a statement. . “Despite illegal efforts to ban access to and use of natural gas, our industry is working hard to keep life-essential energy affordable and reliable especially during the extreme cold we are experiencing now.”

Dozens of Democratic-controlled cities, including San Francisco and Berkeley, California, have sought to ban new buildings from using gas fireplaces as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality. New York state last month approved a law banning natural gas stoves and ovens in most new buildings.

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These efforts have been targeted by GOP-led legal challenges and laws passed in red states prohibiting local governments from restricting gas use in buildings, according to S&P Global.

More than 75 million American households use natural gas for at least one appliance, mostly for home or water heat, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration in 2020.

According to the survey, approximately two out of every five American homes have a gas stove.

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Trump has criticized electrical appliances and water provision as inefficient and ineffective, and described his opposition to Democratic climate policies as “common sense.”

“We are a party of common sense, and the things I’m telling you now are actually about common sense,” Trump said.

Aubrey Spady of Fox News Digital and Reuters contributed to this report.