A❤️441-word🧡under💛3-minute💚read
I admit it. The headline is inaccurate. The program had one enemy, and it happens to be the only one that matters: President Trump.
What program am I referring to?
𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿
Energy Star represents that rare occasion when the federal government gets something right. Since its inception in 1992, the program has enjoyed bipartisan support. And Energy Star labels are recognized by 90% of Americans as indicating that an appliance is well made and offers lower operating cost.
Unfortunately, Energy Star also has the misfortune of coming under the purview of both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. It appears to be a case of guilt by association.
When Trump was elected, the climate community immediately focused on the fate of the Inflation Reduction Act. However, as I pointed out in the aftermath of the election, the real environmental damage was likely to emanate from the agency level.
We are seeing that come to pass. So far, the Trump administration plans to lift restrictions on utility plant emissions, dumb down or remove tailpipe emission standards, and cease monitoring the impact of severe weather.
Energy Star - which was one of the first public-private partnerships - is technology and manufacturer agnostic. It is also a voluntary program. A program that the government estimates has saved consumers $500 billion over the last 30+ years.
Appliance manufacturers were not lobbying for its end. Nor is the utility industry opposing the program. In fact, Energy Star has played a major role in suppressing electricity demand. That in turn has helped improve grid reliability and resiliency. As far as I can recall, the program wasn’t a campaign issue, and no leader from either political party voiced opposition to it.
But here we are. Along with myriad other programs that dare to have some affiliation with climate or the environment, Energy Star has found itself on political death row. It is believed that given it is a statutory line item that requires Congressional funding approval, it can’t be formally eliminated until the end of the fiscal year.
If that’s the case, there’s still time to save it. If nothing else, President Trump has proven to be somewhat flexible in his second stint as president. Perhaps he can be convinced that Energy Star really isn’t climate-related. It’s a program that helps consumers save money while also reducing peak electricity demand and thereby enhancing energy security.
I don’t often find myself advocating that a government program should be saved. Quite the contrary. Still, Energy Star has, and can continue to be, a valuable program for the public at large. Perhaps we can all make our feelings known to our local representatives.
#energystar #energyefficiency #EPA #electricgrid