Gas Furnace Rule Part II: Return of the “Scorched Gas” Policy

By -- July 15, 2015 2 Comments

“Without due process and analytical transparency, purported societal benefits become even more debatable. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is supposed to comply with Executive Orders (EO) 12988 and 13132 to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce regulatory burdens.”

“In the realities of a competitive marketplace, such policies can and do abuse consumers’ best economic interests. By claiming some sort of market failure, DOE is authorized to force ‘energy efficiency’ investments’ upon consumers.”

On January 23rd, 2013, MasterResource published Gas Furnace Rule: Beware of “Scorched Gas” Policy. [1]  The opening paragraph stated:

“Hurrah” to the American Public Gas Association (APGA), a small trade group that was willing to step-up to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other special-interest organizations that want energy efficiency at any cost to the American consumer.

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Giving (tax) Credit Where Credit Isn’t Due: “Geothermal” Heat Pumps (and beyond)

By -- March 18, 2015 4 Comments

To begin, let’s review some basic HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) principals. Heat pumps are basically just air-cooled electric air conditioners that, in addition to taking heat out of a home (in the cooling season) can also be made to run backwards to provide heat to homes (in the heating season).   This dual heating and cooling ability is accomplished by the relatively simple reversal of refrigerant flow through an additional control valve.

So-called “geothermal” heat pump are basically just heat pumps that, instead of exchanging heat in the refrigerant with outside air, exchange heat with pipes buried a few feet deep in the yard.   In order to minimize the extra amount of refrigerant that would be needed for the vast amount of buried pipe necessary with “geothermal” heat pump systems, intermediate heat exchangers and common “antifreeze solutions” are employed instead.…

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DOE Policy: In Search of Transparency (efficiency standards in controversy)

By -- November 25, 2014 1 Comment

A representative group of stakeholders developing a joint proposal does not relieve DOE of its obligation to consult with other ‘interested’ stakeholders, nor does it allow DOE to ignore substantive adverse comments.”

Should U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rulemaking procedures be transparent and even-handed?

Of course they should. It is in the public interest for any regulatory agency to consider all viewpoints, even if those viewpoints may not coincide with the government’s particular philosophy at the time. The regulatory process, which places great power in the hands of regulators (like it or not), only succeeds if all voices are heard, arguments weighed, and a clear explanation of both the how and why particular claims prevailed and conclusions reached.

And, when the regulatory process relies upon data, it is also essential for an agency to make available to the public the data gathered and analyzed by the agency prior to any significant action (i.e.,…

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Energy Mischief at the Rural Utilities Services (USDA): Climate Hubs, Efficiency Mandates, Fuel Switching Rules

By -- March 25, 2014 No Comments

As stated at the website of the Rural Utilities Services (RUS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “the Federal government is the majority noteholder for approximately 700 electric systems borrowers in 46 states.” So many members of Congress represent districts with electric coops that are “regulated” by RUS. And as Public Choice economics might predict, there will be pork-fests in such situations.

This post reviews the little known “clean energy” and “climate action” activities of the USDA. More specifically, this article looks into the just-enacted Agricultural Act of 2014 (a.k.a. Farm Bill) as it pertains to the RUS’s energy efficiency programs. (RUS is USDA’s tributary to electricity issues.)

USDA’s ‘Climate Hubs’

On February 5, 2014, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of seven new “climate hubs” as “part of the President’s Climate Action Plan to responsibly cut carbon pollution, slow the effects of climate change and put America on track to a cleaner environment.”…

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Gas Furnace Rule: Beware of “Scorched Gas” Policy

By -- January 28, 2013 8 Comments Continue Reading

Gas Furnaces vs. DOE’s EERE (Trump trumps Obama, but Biden is Next)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- February 11, 2021 1 Comment Continue Reading

Fossil-fuel BP vs. Fossil Fuels (a contra-capitalist company at work)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 30, 2020 1 Comment Continue Reading

Problems of Industrial Electrification (forced decarbonization on the firing line)

By Mark Krebs and Tom Tanton -- January 9, 2020 12 Comments Continue Reading

Green Party US vs. “Fake Democrats”

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 8, 2018 1 Comment Continue Reading

‘Home Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards’ Hearing: Some Reflections (Part I)

By -- June 29, 2016 3 Comments Continue Reading