"The Energy Department released a plan today that would rescind lightbulb standards projected to save double the energy of any other efficiency regulation in history.
The notice of proposed rulemaking, which has not yet been published in the Federal Register, would nullify Obama-era rules that would have expanded the types of lighting covered by stricter efficiency levels. Those higher levels were set to take effect in January 2020, according to federal law.
Along with traditional bulbs that fit into table lamps, the plan would have set higher efficiency levels for cone-shaped bulbs, three-way bulbs, reflector lights and other types of fixtures.
According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Obama-era language would have saved about 27 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy over 30 years, compared with 14.8 quads for the largest previous efficiency standard in history, which applied to commercial air conditioners and furnaces (Greenwire, Aug. 8, 2018). One analysis from the Appliance Standards Awareness Project said the rule would have saved emissions from more than 180 coal plants annually."
Christa Marshall reports for E&E News PM February 6, 2019.
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