House Panel Advances Bills Limiting Efficiency Rules, State Gas Policies

A House Energy and Commerce Committee panel is advancing a series of bills that would restrict the Energy Department’s (DOE) ability to issue appliance efficiency standards, while also blocking states from limiting natural gas use in new buildings. During a Nov. 19 energy subcommittee markup, Republicans approved a slate of bills on energy efficiency, including H.R. 4626, which overhauls DOE’s efficiency standards program under the Energy Policy & Conservation Act (EPCA); and H.R. 2699, which would block state and local...