Natural GAS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1043
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Introduced: 2023-03-29
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Energy

Energy efficiency and conservation

Manufacturing

Oil and gas
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-29
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2023 or the Natural GAS Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill modifies energy efficiency requirements under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to limit what the Department of Energy (DOE) may include in future rules related to the following natural gas appliances: gas water heaters, furnaces, boilers, kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires DOE to certify that rules are not likely to result in a significant shift from gas appliances to electric appliances. DOE must also require a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards as part of the rulemaking process.</p> <p>In addition, the bill exempts certain small manufacturers of major household appliances from future energy efficiency standards for such appliances. Future rules for such appliances must require energy efficiency labels displayed at the point of sale to disclose full-fuel-cycle efficiency rather than point-of-use energy consumption.</p> <p>The bill also prohibits any future rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens from limiting the features (e.g., quick-to-boil times) and functionality available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1043 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 29, 2023 Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Risch , Mr. Lee , Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Hoeven ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to modify standards for water heaters, furnaces, boilers, and kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Natural Gas Appliances Standards Act of 2023 or the Natural GAS Act of 2023 . 2. Rule requirements for water heaters Section 325(e) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6295(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (7) Requirements (A) Rulemaking process For any rule relating to water heaters under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards and dated 2009; and (ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas water heaters to electric water heaters with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or water heater replacement. (B) Rules Any rule relating to water heaters under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph— (i) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and (ii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that— (I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the water heater; and (II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale. . 3. Rule requirements for furnaces and boilers Section 325(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6295(f) ) is amended— (a) in paragraph (1)(B)— (1) in clause (i), by adding and at the end after the semicolon; (2) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end and inserting a period; and (3) by striking clause (iii); and (b) by adding at the end the following: (5) Requirements (A) Rulemaking process For any rule relating to furnaces or boilers under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards and dated 2009; and (ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas furnaces or boilers to electric furnaces or boilers with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or furnace or boiler replacement. (B) Rules Any rule relating to furnaces or boilers under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph— (i) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and (ii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that— (I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the water heater; and (II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale. . 4. Rule requirements for cooktops, ranges, and ovens Section 325(h) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 6295(h) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Requirements (A) Rulemaking process For any rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) require as part of the rulemaking process the performance of a full fuel cycle analysis for energy efficiency standards and a full fuel cycle energy descriptor, as described in a letter report of the National Academies entitled Review of Site (Point-of-Use) and Full-Fuel-Cycle Measurement Approaches to DOE/EERE Building Appliance Energy-Efficiency Standards and dated 2009; and (ii) certify that the rule is not likely to result in a significant shift from gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens to electric kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens with respect to residential construction, commercial construction, or cooktop, range, and oven replacement. (B) Rules Any rule relating to kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens under this section that is finalized after the date of enactment of this paragraph— (i) shall not limit the features and functionality available on residential gas kitchen cooktops, ranges, and ovens, including— (I) quick-to-boil times; (II) the number and size of burners, including burners designed for simmering and high input rate burners; and (III) the design of grates, including continuous grates; (ii) shall not apply to small major household appliance manufacturers (as defined in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); and (iii) shall require the results of the analysis and resulting energy descriptor described in subparagraph (A)(i) to be prominently disclosed on any label that— (I) is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide energy efficiency information of the kitchen cooktop, range, or oven; and (II) is visible to consumers at the point of sale. .