WASHINGTON — Oil and gas industry lobbyists take to the Capitol Hill arena to oppose what they see as the Biden administration’s anti-fossil fuel agenda in anticipation that Republicans could take control of the House in the midterm elections. already working behind the scenes.
In the name of fighting climate change, the American Gas Association is helping to lead this effort, with a program aimed specifically at encouraging homeowners to replace their natural gas stoves and stoves with electric appliances. .
A top lobbyist for a powerful industry group told other gas industry executives at a meeting late last month that the group was preparing to work with House Republicans to increase oversight of the Energy Department. A panel company called Solindra, which went bankrupt after receiving federal loan guarantees.
their hope is $4.5 billion program This provides rebates worth $14,000 per household to low- and middle-income households on appliances such as electric heat pumps, water heaters and induction stoves that often replace natural gas-powered appliances. can be installed.
This program improve air quality Reduce carbon emissions from burning natural gas. However, the gas industry sees it as a major threat that could lead millions of homes not to use natural gas as a home heat source.
Lobbyist machinations are an early example of how the influence industry is beginning to develop new strategies for the possibility of one or both houses of Congress falling under Republican control after the midterm elections.
Polls suggest that Republicans are particularly likely to win the House, and industry groups, lobbyists, and other special interest groups are scheming their way through legislation and oversight.
“Republicans are expected to retake the House, and they’re trying to do a little bit of scrutiny to try and change the law as much as they can,” said Allison Cunningham, the Gas Association’s top lobbyist. At a meeting Along with other gas industry executives in Minneapolis last month, according to event records.
Rep. Bill Johnson, an Ohio Republican and member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said in an interview that he had been discussing the issue with the gas industry. He said he is eager to promote them in the new parliament starting in January.
“We’re supposed to be looking at energy efficiency, not rebuilding society,” said Johnson, who represents rural southeastern Ohio, a major source of natural gas. “This is the department’s attempt to hastily pursue environmental commitments under the guise of efficiency standards.”
2022 midterm elections
Both parties are making final pitches ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
- Republicans take the lead: Republicans are gaining the upper hand as the economy and inflation surge as the dominant concerns as we enter the final week of the race for control of Congress, according to a Times/Siena poll.
- Coded row: President Biden has promised that if Democrats gain control of Congress in the midterm elections, the first bill he will introduce to the Capitol next year will be a bill enshrining abortion rights into law.
- Florida Senate Elections: In the competition’s only debate, exchanges between Sen. Marco Rubio and his Democratic challenger, Rep. Val Demings, got heated at times.
- Offensive Tactics: Right-wing leaders are calling on campaigners to monitor polls in midterm elections for evidence to confirm unsubstantiated theories of electoral fraud.
Across the country, environmentalists and the gas industry are already grappling with bitter rivalry over whether cities and states should take steps to encourage homeowners to move away from natural gas.
The shift is already underway: natural gas has been the dominant heat source 46 percent of households nationwide recently 2020 Energy Sector Surveyfrom below 49% in 2015.
The natural gas industry is fighting back aggressively, at least lobbying to support the passed legislation. 21 states This restricts local governments from banning the installation of gas-fired appliances in new homes. new york city and dozens California community.
Lauren Urbanek, deputy director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which has pushed for the transition from natural gas, said she was not surprised that the fossil fuel industry was preparing to join forces with Republicans in Congress to oppose it. .
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“They definitely don’t care about the American consumer,” she said. “This is to ensure that they remain viable as an industry.”
American Gas Association vice president Richard Meyer criticized the rebate program, saying it was flawed because it allowed homes to make money just by buying appliances without improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The industry also objected to gas heat, especially in cold regionscan be cheaper on a monthly basis. Controversy of Renewable Power Advocates.
In addition to the rebate program, which aims to encourage consumers to switch to appliances by providing incentives, the gas industry is embracing another proposal from the Biden administration to mandate stricter energy efficiency standards for natural gas-fired furnaces. is disputing
A proposal called Energy saving standards for commercial furnaceseffectively banning new installations of conventional furnaces that waste a significant amount of natural gas burning in making heat.
Instead, property owners must purchase more expensive 95% efficient gas-fueled units, or switch completely from gas by purchasing electric heat pumps or other electric furnaces.
The Department of Energy claims that the furnace efficiency rule alone could save consumers $30 billion over 30 years and cut more than 363 million tons of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.Significant methodological and data deficiencies”
of The American Gas Association also claims Certain older homes, especially in low-income areas, cannot accommodate the new vents required for these high-efficiency gas furnaces. ‘Department illegally promoting fuel switching,’ trade group claimed in a comment letter Sent to the Department of Energy this month.
gas association teamed up with The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, other gas operators, landlord groups and even the National Barbecue Association are jointly trying to block the new fire pit standards. Challenge them in federal court.
Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Johnson said it was unlikely that the new Congress would pass a bill that would block kickbacks or mandates to make reactors more efficient.
However, what would guarantee a Republican majority in the House would be Energy Department officials detailing efforts to improve energy efficiency, including a drive to reduce reliance on natural gas to heat homes. increasing demands from the Commission for documents and testimony from said the Republican lawmaker in an interview.
After a significant slowdown in leasing in the first nearly two years of the Biden administration, oil industry advocates are also turning to House Republicans to open up more federal land in the West for oil and gas drilling. We are preparing to put pressure on the Ministry of the Interior.
There is almost jubilation in their voices when discussing the possibility of helping Biden administration officials like Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with draft questions.
“She managed to dodge a question when she was in front of the chairman of the Democratic Commission,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, an oil industry group. I don’t think she gets the same treatment when She didn’t actually set her feet on fire.”
House Republicans on the Energy Commerce Committee, which oversees the Department of Energy, sent two letters this month to Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm with information about the agency’s lending program and other federal funding efforts. I asked. Republicans again called it part of the “green rush.”
These loans are generally focused on much larger renewable energy initiatives, such as new battery plants planned by automakers, rather than rebates to consumers retrofitting appliances in their homes. But Republicans are starting with these more expensive programs first.
“Republican members of the committee intend to exercise strong oversight,” said Oklahoma Republican Rep. Frank D. Lucas. wrote in a letter This month, Ms. Granholm received eight requests for information from the Department of Energy about details about the Department of Energy’s loan program.
Industry lobbyists said questioning these big loan programs is a way to put the Biden administration on the defensive. told other gas industry executives at a conference.