This morning, the League of Conservation Voters sent the following letter to the Senate urging Senators to oppose S.J. Res. 58. LCV will strongly consider including votes on S.J. Res. 58 in the 2024 National Environmental Scorecard.

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May 21, 2024

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Re: Oppose S.J. Res. 58, disapproving of DOE’s final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards

Dear Senators:

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) believes that everyone has a right to clean air, clean water, public lands, and a safe climate protected by a just and equitable democracy. Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of members of Congress on environmental legislation. The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media.

LCV urges you to vote NO on S.J. Res. 58, which would undo the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) final rule and block any future rule setting an energy efficiency standard for household gas furnaces. If enacted, this resolution would block new money-saving efficiency standards that reduce climate and other forms of toxic air pollution. Repealing the standard could force customers to rely on outdated, inefficient technology and must be rejected.

For most U.S. families, heating their homes is their largest energy use, leaving families with hefty utility bills in the winter months. The Department of Energy’s final furnace efficiency standard is set to reduce average annual home heating bills for consumers replacing an inefficient furnace by $350 over the life of the new furnace. The new standard will also cut 332 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from furnaces sold over the next 30 years, while also reducing other harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, improving public health.

Despite federal law requiring that the DOE periodically review efficiency standards for appliances like furnaces, the new furnace efficiency standard is the first meaningful increase since Congress established them in 1987. Under a court-approved settlement, DOE was required to finalize a new furnace standard by 2016 but did not do so until now. This rule is long overdue and will save households money while cutting pollution and safeguarding our climate.

We urge you to REJECT S.J. Res. 58, the resolution disapproving of DOE’s final rule on residential gas furnace efficiency standards. LCV will strongly consider including votes on this legislation in our 2024 National Environmental Scorecard. If you would like more information, please reach out to a member of our government relations team.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President