Biden is forcing manufacturers to meet tight new standards for the sake of preventing climate change, and many are struggling under the pressure.

From The Washington Times. It’s not just your gas stove that the Biden administration is seeking to regulate in the name of combating climate change — it’s coming for your entire home.

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President Biden’s green energy goals have resulted in an array of new efficiency rules for a slew of household appliances, including microwaves and toothbrush chargers. The effort is forcing manufacturers to produce more costly products that they say reverse innovation by decades and potentially eliminate thousands of U.S. jobs.

Biden administration officials are touting the rules as part of the goal to take 100 actions “to strengthen energy efficiency standards for a range of appliances and equipment to lower costs for American families.” …

Industry leaders say the rules come with steep upfront costs for consumers and negatively impact performance. …

The association and manufacturers have been working with the Energy Department to try to moderate the onslaught of new rules, but they are not making much progress. Manufacturers say it breaks from a long tradition of manufacturers and administration officials working together on energy efficiency rules.

Manufacturers also say it is overwhelming them with higher production costs and, in some cases, difficulty meeting the standards.

One industry executive described the cascade of regulations as “an avalanche” and “unprecedented” in stringency and scope.

The Department of Energy late last week quietly added yet another rule that would force manufacturers to redesign appliances. It introduced proposed standards requiring dishwashers to cut water use, some by more than one-third, and reduce energy consumption by up to 27% for some models.

The proposed rules are even more drastic for washing machines.

The standards proposed by the Energy Department would eliminate 98% of all top-loading washing machines on the market today and would require manufacturers to make machines larger and remove the central agitator that increases cleaning performance. One manufacturer said the efficiency standard would add $200 to the cost of a top-loading machine. …

Manufacturers are also grappling with energy rules for microwave ovens that would reduce power usage in standby mode. To meet the new caps, manufacturers say, they might eliminate backlighting and display clocks that remain lit while the microwave is not in use and some higher-end sensors that improve performance.

The Energy Department is also ramping up efficiency standards for refrigerators by requiring more expensive compressors and insulation components that will raise costs and possibly reduce interior space. …

Industry insiders accuse the Department of Energy of ignoring manufacturing data on cost and performance and not backing down on the stringency or the swift pace of the new regulations as they work to meet Mr. Biden’s aggressive plan to reduce emissions and combat climate change. …

Most of the rules will be finalized by next year. That gives manufacturers until 2027 to comply with them. …

A spokesman for the Department of Energy pointed to a recent Morning Consult poll showing 59% of adults, including 48% who identified as Republicans, back stronger efficiency standards for appliances and buildings. The spokesman said Samsung expressed support for the new efficiency standards for refrigerators and washing machines. …

Energy savings for individual consumers would be small. The new washing machine rules would save less than $8 annually, and the clothes dryer efficiency standards would save $36 per year, according to the Energy Department. …

Buried in the Energy Department’s analysis are troubling figures for the nation’s manufacturing sector.

The department has calculated that the new rules for washers, dryers and refrigerators alone could cumulatively cost the manufacturing industry more than 16,000 U.S. jobs if manufacturers move to countries with cheaper labor to mitigate production cost increases. They also crunch numbers to show jobs could increase in the U.S. if manufacturers stay put.

Manufacturers don’t want to make that choice and are not giving up on a compromise. They continue to urge Energy Department officials to work out less-stringent standards on the rules that are still under consideration, including washing machines, dryers and refrigerators. The talks may include environmental groups who are pressuring the department to maintain stricter standards. …

How are you praying about these new regulations? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Excerpt from The Washington Times. Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)