According to that post, he’ll direct his appointee Lee Zeldin to “go back to the common sense standards,” for lightbulbs. Zeldin is the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, although Trump calls him “secretary” in his post. And while Trump singled out Zeldin, it’s the Department of Energy that sets efficiency standards for light bulbs and appliances.
Trump said he’s going to sign “orders” to reinstate standards that were in place during his first term. Along with lightbulbs, the president indicated he would weaken standards for sinks, showers, toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers.
“Of course being a vain person, that’s very important to me.”
On a more serious note, his administration has taken aim at energy efficiency initiatives as part of a broader effort to derail action on climate change and promote fossil fuels. He signed a sweeping executive order called “Unleashing American Energy” on his first day in office that includes “safeguard[ing] the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances, including but not limited to lightbulbs.”
Oil and gas companies pumped more than $75 million into Trump’s campaign and Republican efforts during the last election cycle, and now they’re reaping the rewards. Trump picked fossil fuel executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy (DOE), which set higher efficiency standards for lightbulbs before he stepped into office.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
