Date: March 31st, 2017
Topic: Climate Change Mitigation, Energy
Type: Lawsuit vs. Federal Government
Jurisdiction: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington
The Energy Policy Conservation Act charges the Department of Energy (DOE) with the obligation to set minimum energy efficiency standards for certain appliances and equipment. The Trump Administration has delayed the effective date of the final rules that amend energy efficiency standards for six domestic and commercial products, including ceiling fans and portable air conditioners. The rules could save consumers over $10 billion dollars in energy costs and eliminate almost 300 million tons of CO2 emissions over the next 30 years.
On March 31, 2017, ten states filed a petition for review of final agency action in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals with respect to the ceiling fan standards. On April 3, the states, now joined by Maryland, served DOE with a notice of intent to sue regarding the remaining five product standards.
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