Banning Gas Stoves: From Conspiracy to Policy

This past spring, Republican lawmakers warned the American people that their Democratic colleagues were placing a bullseye on gas stoves in the name of climate change. Allies in the big-box media argued that this was a conspiracy theory designed to fuel the culture war. However, it is no longer a public policy pursuit hallucinated by conservatives and libertarians. Democrats admit they are coming for the kitchen appliance, while the left-leaning activists in the mainstream press assert this is a worthwhile crusade.

Gas Stoves Are Destroying Earth?

The House Subcommittee for Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing July 18 with Geraldine Richmond, the Department of Energy (DOE) Under Secretary for Science and Innovation, taking center stage. The chief talking point throughout her testimony was that the department does not possess the authority to prohibit gas stoves. "DOE cannot require, and is not proposing, that consumers replace those already installed in their homes," she testified. Instead, Richmond argued that the Energy Department's proposed rules adhere to the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act, including the six-yearly efficiency evaluations mandated by the law.

So, what are the facts? The DOE plans to roll out a set of energy efficiency requirements for cooking appliances by 2027, and, according to its analysis, about half the gas stoves currently on the market will not adhere to the new rules or, therefore, remain eligible for retail sale. While the hope is no doubt to promote electric kitchen equipment, manufacturers will have the option to redesign their gas stoves with features that comply with the proposed regulation.

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), the ranking subcommittee member, purported that the hearing was mostly about Republicans protecting "big oil and big gas," adding that members of the GOP caucus do not understand the White House's policy. "The climate crisis is here, and it is very, very real," Rep. Bush stated. "The Biden-Harris administration is not banning gas stoves, nor is it leading a conspiracy to regulate your appliances out of existence." She also inserted social issues into the conversation, explaining that "the only regulations Republicans fight for are to restrict access to abortion and children’s books.”

But Republicans refused to accept these arguments. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), who headed the hearing, warned that these outlined efficiency standards that extend beyond gas stoves are "a tidal wave of regulatory burdens affecting Americans’ daily lives" that will not achieve much for energy efficiency or cost savings.

"The DOE, however, will argue that saving 12 cents per month — or $1.50 per year — is more than enough reason to reconfigure the entire gas stove industry. If that doesn’t seem like much, well, you can sleep easy knowing that getting rid of your gas stove is saving the planet from climate change,” said Rep. Fallon. “Give me a break. We all know that these rules are a solution in search of a problem.”

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) suggested that the current administration was aiming for a de facto restriction by reducing consumer options and lamented the Energy Department's ambitious efforts to help households reduce their energy and trim their utility bills. “I’m happy the DOE is out here making sure that we can all save money ‘cause we’re too dumb to figure out how to do it ourselves,” he stated.

A Trip Down Gaslighting Lane

A plethora of MSNBC and CNN personalities went on tirades during their Two Minutes of Hate sessions on broadcast television this past spring, complaining that the right was "stoking ridiculous new freakouts about gas stoves," and that this was one of many "made-up culture war battles designed to enrage and rile up their right wing and paranoid base." Then, in May, as part of its broader efforts in the war on natural gas, New York became the first US state to approve legislation restricting the use of natural gas for cooking and heating in new buildings beginning in 2025. Cue the famous Curb Your Enthusiasm music.

The primary argument is that this is a sensible policy to combat climate change. Of course, like many other public policies crafted in the name of saving the planet, the data do not support this claim. In 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration, households burned approximately 92 trillion British thermal units of natural gas in their stoves when Americans were confined to their humble abodes. This accounted for about 2% of residential natural gas consumption, down from 2.9% in 2015. It also accounted for 0.3% of overall US natural gas use, 0.1% of total US energy consumption, and 0.1% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Ouch.

Even if this were an intelligent policy backed by science, the American people do not favor the government targeting their gas stoves. A recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found that 69% of US voters oppose rules eliminating or phasing out gas stoves.

C’mon Man

In a Seinfeld episode, “The Hot Tub,” George Costanza pretends to be busy by looking annoyed. By appearing perturbed, he gives the impression to his boss at the New York Yankees that he is working hard. This is sort of how President Joe Biden and his administration behave. They keep telling the public that they are sinking their teeth into crucial issues, like concert tickets and late fees, although the numbers highlight that these are unimportant to voters. Meanwhile, the national average gallon for gasoline is above $3.50, food prices are up nearly 6% from a year ago, and earnings have mostly failed to keep up with the cost of living throughout the Biden presidency. Gas stoves might be public enemy No. 1 in the nation’s capital, but statistics and public opinion polling show this is an unwanted and supercilious endeavor by Washington bureaucrats.