Climate Backtracker

DOE announced the designation of coal used in steel production as a critical material under the Energy Act of 2020, in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.”

Interior published a request for information seeking help identifying existing regulations that can be repealed or amended to reduce regulatory burdens pursuant to President Trump's directives in the Executive Order, Unleashing American Energy.

DOE further delayed implementation of its amended test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps, as established in its January 7, 2025 final rule.

DOE withdrew its December 23, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, referred to collectively as “walk-ins.”

DOE withdrew its December 26, 2024 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters.

DOE withdrew its January 21, 2025 rule prescribing amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

DOT announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had recently submitted an interpretive rule, “Resetting the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Program (CAFE),” to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review. DOT described this action as “a key step towards reversing the prior administration’s illegal interpretation of CAFE standards.” 

EPA withdrew its November 18, 2024 rule on implementing and facilitating compliance with the Waste Emissions Charge in the Clean Air Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program.

DOE published a notice that it has rescinded several guidance documents, including the agency's Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, Sustainability Plan, low carbon electricity plans, and more.

DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the procedures for acquisition of petroleum for the strategic petroleum reserve. The change will amend the regulations to require index-priced contracts.

DOE issued a direct final rule to rescind a portion of regulations containing requirements for the collection of information as required by the Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act.

DOE issued a direct final rule to amend the administrative procedures regarding the import and export of natural gas. The rule will take effect on July 15, 2025.

DOE proposed amending its regulations which govern the authorization process for transmission of electricity to a foreign country.

DOE proposed amending its test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces, as adopted under EPCA. In pursuit of its current policy to “reduce regulatory burden wherever possible,” DOE reviewed its own January 17, 2025 decision to apply a new metric to these furnaces, and found that the January 17 determination had preceded from insufficient evidence.

DOE proposed eliminating its efficiency standards for compact residential clothes washers. DOE asserted that, while it has authority to issue regulations for standard-size washers, it presently lacks authority to issue regulations for compact clothes washers.

DOE proposed withdrawing its prior determination that compressors qualify as covered equipment under EPCA. DOE asserted that this proposed withdrawal is consistent with a policy to classify industrial equipment as covered equipment “only if energy conservation standards will significantly increase the energy resources of the nation, without compromising the performance of industrial products.” 

DOE announced it would consider whether to revise its energy conservation standards for consumer furnace fans, as adopted under EPCA. DOE invited public input on whether the current standards “continue to be economically justified in light of DOE's new policy supporting energy and water abundance, allowing Americans to produce and consume as much energy and water as they desire.”

DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels as obsolete.

DOE proposed rescinding its regulations for the Renewable Energy Production Incentives program at the end of fiscal year 2026, in coordination with the program's statutory sunset date.

DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that fans and blowers are covered equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

DOE proposed to withdraw its determination that portable air conditioners are a covered consumer product under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

DOE proposed to rescind the amended energy conservation standards for dehumidifiers, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.

DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for commercial prerinse spray valves, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.

DOE proposed to rescind the amended water use standards for faucets, which would revert the operative standards to a less restrictive version.