Title: House Small Business Committee Challenges Biden Administration’s Regulations on Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
Subtitle: President Biden’s regulations anticipated to drive up costs for small businesses
Date: [Insert Date]
The House Small Business Committee has recently directed its attention to the Biden administration’s actions targeting commercial refrigeration equipment, warning that these regulations could result in higher costs for small businesses. The committee, led by Chairman Roger Williams, sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday, urging the administration to provide information on the potential impacts of the regulations.
The Department of Energy (DOE) had previously indicated its intention to develop more stringent energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment in federal filings in June 2022. These regulations have raised concerns among small business owners about the financial burdens they may impose.
Chairman Williams expressed his concerns about the Biden administration’s climate agenda, stating, “The Biden Administration continues to push a radical climate agenda that makes it more challenging to own a small business.” He further emphasized the impact of energy efficiency regulations on Main Street, requiring small businesses to adapt their operations and bear the costs associated with the Green New Deal.
Under Williams’ leadership, the Small Business Committee has actively reviewed federal regulations to assess their influence on small business operators nationwide. The committee has shown particular interest in the DOE’s regulations targeting home appliances, as consumer advocacy groups have cautioned that these measures will inevitably lead to increased costs.
As part of its energy efficiency agenda, the DOE published a notice seeking comment on potential standards affecting commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. While specific regulations have not been proposed, the agency aimed to determine if the existing standards were adequate.
Industry stakeholders, including the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, expressed concerns regarding the rushed nature of the rulemaking process and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach.
In response to these concerns, the White House and DOE held a meeting with AHRI to discuss the ongoing rulemaking process. The ultimate goal of this effort, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget, is to establish more stringent standards or determine if the existing ones require amendments.
The Small Business Committee Republicans, led by Chairman Williams, have called on Secretary Granholm to provide comprehensive data and information regarding the potential impacts of these regulations on small businesses, particularly restaurants. They emphasized the necessity of considering small business interests, given their significant contribution to the US economy.
While the Biden administration has pursued energy efficiency regulations for various home appliances, including gas stoves, clothes washers, residential refrigerators, and air conditioners, the DOE has also indicated plans to introduce regulations impacting appliances such as pool pumps, battery chargers, ceiling fans, and dehumidifiers.
According to the Biden administration’s current federal Unified Agenda, these appliance regulations are estimated to save Americans $570 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.4 billion metric tons in the next three decades. However, critics argue that the aggressive energy efficiency campaign will limit consumer choice and drive up costs.
Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, expressed concerns about the expanding regulations, stating, “It’s just spreading to more and more appliances. It seems that almost everything that plugs in or fires up around the house is either subject to a pending regulation or soon will be.” Lieberman argued that these regulations are often detrimental to consumers, restricting their choices and increasing costs.
In light of these concerns, Chairman Williams and other Small Business Committee members have asserted the need for transparency and urged the Biden administration to consider the voices of America’s small businesses in the rulemaking process.
As the debate over energy efficiency regulations continues, small businesses await information on the potential impact that these regulations may have on their operations and consumer costs.