Internal memo shows Biden WAS serious about banning gas stoves before public ... trends now
An internal memo has revealed that Biden's administration was in fact serious about banning gas stoves across the US, before public backlash forced them to rethink the move.
Richard Trumka Jr., an agency commissioner for US Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced in January that the group were keen to address the pollution emitted by gas stoves.
But the federal regulator's proposal to ban the appliances quickly caused mass outrage, as many said it would disproportionately target poorer Americans as gas cooking appliances are often more affordable.
An estimated 48.8 million households in the US still have gas kitchen appliances, according to data from 2020. And under Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) each household can receive up to $840 in a rebate to switch to electric, alongside an additional $500 for installation fees.
Richard Trumka Jr. (left) and Joe Biden (right). An internal memo now shows that The Consumer Product Safety Commission was indeed serious about banning gas stoves, before there was mass outrage at the proposal
This means that if every household in the US that currently owns a gas cooker switched and used the government funds, it would cost the Biden administration over $65 billion.
The IRA was set in place to offer incentives for consumers to switch to electric stoves, and once law it will provide $369billion of subsidies and tax credits over a decade - making it the largest climate spending package in American history.
Richard Trumka Jr. said in the internal memo: 'The need for gas stove regulation has reached a boiling point'
The Consumer Product Safety Commission head wrote the internal memo - titled 'NPR Proposing Ban on Gas Stoves (Indoor Air Quality)' on October 25, 2022.
This goes to show that the Biden administration, who appoints the CPSC, were allegedly thinking about making the switch months before it was previously reported.
The internal memo, seen by Fox News, read: 'The need for gas stove regulation has reached a boiling point. CPSC has the responsibility to ban consumer products that emit hazardous substances, particularly, when those emissions harm children, under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.
'Emerging evidence is sufficient to conclude that gas stoves in homes emit toxic gasses that cause illness and that lower-cost, safer alternatives are available.
'There is sufficient information available for CPSC to issue an NPR in FY 2023 proposing to ban gas stoves in homes.
The White House made a statement after the proposal, making clear that Biden was not coming for oven tops. It was after people dug out an image of Jill Biden cooking on one
'The additional work needed to complete an NPR is primarily economic; the available health and scientific evidence on illnesses caused by the relevant gasses at the concentrations present in homes with gas stoves already exists.'
In the aftermath of the backlash, the White House confirmed: 'The president does not support banning gas stoves and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, is not banning as stoves.'
The backtrack came in response to a tweet from Republican lawmaker Rep. Gary Palmer, who voiced outrage that unelected officials could ban an appliance used by tens of millions of Americans.
The idea of banning was first raised by Democrat lawmakers Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Dan Beyer, who sent a letter to the the CPSC urging it to take action after a study found that gas stoves were linked to higher cases of asthma.
Trumpka previously told Bloomberg gas stoves were a 'hidden hazard,' and added that 'any option is on the table' and 'products that can't be made safe can be banned.'
But he later clarified that potential regulations would only 'apply to new products' in a tweet. 'CPSC isn't coming for anyone's gas stoves. Regulations apply to new products,' he added.
If every household in the US that currently owns a gas cooker switched to electric and used the government funds, it would cost the Biden administration over $65 billion
It comes as nearly 100 cities and counties have adopted policies that require or encourage a move away from fossil fuel-powered buildings, including in New York City where the city council voted to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings under seven stories by the end of the year.
The California Air Resources Board also voted unanimously in September to ban the sale of natural gas-fired furnaces and water heaters by 2030.
The debate was kickstarted by a
