Mobile Courant

On May 22, 2024, the U.S. Senate voted 50-45 to overturn a rule from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that would significantly impact Americans' ability to affordably heat their homes. The Biden administration’s rule bans all non-condensing furnace models and mandates that manufacturers sell furnaces converting at least 95 percent of fuel into heat, up from the previous threshold of 80 percent. This regulation compels many Americans to either adopt expensive electric heat pumps or incur substantial costs to renovate their homes for new residential gas furnaces.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), alongside U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), introduced a disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act in February. Following the Senate vote, Senator Tuberville stated:

"The gas furnaces rule is just one of the Biden administration’s many attacks on our domestic energy industry. President Biden should be looking for ways to bring costs down—not driving them up. Americans are already struggling to make ends meet in this economy. They do not want to be stuck with the bill for this administration’s woke climate agenda. I’m glad we overturned this rule and hope that President Biden will sign it into law as soon as possible."

The DOE finalized this rule on December 18, 2023, requiring gas furnaces to achieve an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 95 percent, prohibiting manufacturers from selling furnaces below this standard starting February 16, 2024. This regulation will phase out non-condensing furnaces by 2028 and affect approximately 55 percent of American households.

Non-condensing gas furnaces are less efficient but more affordable compared to condensing electrical furnaces, which require appropriate venting that older and smaller homes often lack. Retrofitting homes could cost around $2,200 for venting and $4,500 for furnace replacement. Given these expenses, transitioning to electric heat may be more economical for families than modifying their homes.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and serves on the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.