11.01.23

Hoeven, Colleagues Push Back on Biden Administration’s Costly, Unrealistic Energy Efficiency Standardsfor Homes

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today pushed back on the Biden administration’s proposal to place costly and unrealistic energy efficiency standards on new single and multifamily homes that are insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Hoeven joined a letter led by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Tim Scot (R-S.C.) John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), in urging the agencies to abandon the proposal, which would reduce the supply of new housing, increase costs on residential contractors and impact low-income households. 

“Over the last few years, the Biden administration has demonstrated a reckless commitment to forcing its unrealistic environmental agenda onto various aspects of the economy via its push toward electrification, regulating household appliances, and the stifling of conventional American energy production,” wrote the senators. “So it is not at all surprising that the administration is now forcing its agenda onto families purchasing or renting a home, all while admitting that ‘lower-income households . . . may be challenged in their ability to address first costs.’ To that end, we request that you abandon this effort and conduct an honest evaluation as to how adoption of the revised international energy conservation code (IECC) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards would increase costs and give special attention to the affect adoption would have on lower-income families.”

In addition to Hoeven, Thune, Scott, Barrasso, and Boozman, the letter was also signed by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Click here for the full letter.

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