June 5, 2024 Last Edit: July 29, 2024
Small businesses must make costly changes to meet the new requirements
What it means: NFIB supports the Senate’s efforts to repeal a burdensome regulation that will increase inflationary pressures affecting small business owners and limit their choices.
Our take: “Small business owners are overwhelmed with the countless government regulations that are increasing costs and red tape for their businesses. In this case, the DOE has misrepresented the economic impact this rule will have on small businesses as it will ultimately increase the input costs of small business owners and increase inflationary pressures.” Adam Temple, NFIB Vice President of Advocacy.
Take Action now to tell your lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to support legislation that would overturn the Department of Energy furnace rule.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has finalized a rule that forces manufacturers to sell only furnaces that convert at least 95% of fuel into heat. NFIB announced S.J. Res. 58, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the DOE final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards, as an NFIB Key Vote for the 118th Congress.
The rule bans all non-condensing furnace models. This means small businesses will have to get electric heat pumps or make a costly investment to renovate existing units to meet the new requirements. The legislation will repeal the burdensome rule that limits small business owners’ choices. According to an NFIB member ballot, 96% of NFIB members believe that the federal government should not restrict the purchase of consumer products like gas furnaces. These burdensome regulations will increase red tape and costs for small businesses and consumers, and the DOE has not accurately projected the economic impact.
NFIB has made the repeal bill a Key Vote and will continue to urge lawmakers to support the legislation. Read our press release for more information on the rule. Take Action: tell your lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to support legislation that would overturn the Department of Energy furnace rule.
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.