Brian Willis: 202.675.2386, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled today that the Trump administration illegally delayed important energy efficiency standards that will help protect American communities from dangerous pollution and save customers and businesses billions of dollars. Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Consumer Federation of America, and NRDC sued the Department of Energy in 2017 for refusing to publish five energy efficiency standards which were finalized in late 2016.
These standards were developed through a robust public process that featured extensive input from public health groups, businesses, and consumer advocates dedicated to cutting costs and protecting communities from avoidable pollution. Estimates show that these standards, which apply to ceiling fans, freezers, boilers, and other commercial and consumer goods, will prevent 292 million tons of dangerous greenhouse gases emissions (roughly the yearly output of 72 coal burning power plants) and 1.2 million tons of methane pollution (enough for 7 coal burning power plants by the same standard) from entering the atmosphere, while also saving customers and businesses nearly $24 billion in reduced electricity use.
These benefits were ready to take effect in 2017, but the Trump administration stalled their final publication, leading to the coalition lawsuit and the U.S. Court of District Court ruling today in favor of consumers and public health.
In response, Mary Anne Hitt, Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, released the following statement:
“The court’s ruling today is a victory for common-sense energy efficiency standards that will clean up our air and save working families money. It’s also a rejection of the Trump administration’s illegal stalling of comprehensive reforms on our country’s energy use that put working families before entrenched corporate interests.
“From day one, the Trump administration has done everything it can to stall, undermine, or scrap policies that put energy working families and public health first, and has instead done the bidding of fossil fuel billionaires. Today’s decision is a reminder that we can fight and win against Trump and billionaire corporate polluters, putting our families, communities, and health back at the center of policymaking.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.