In a move that reeks of overreach and corporate profiteering, the Biden administration quietly finalized new regulations targeting gas-powered tankless water heaters the day after Christmas. With no public announcement from the Department of Energy (DOE), a glaring departure from usual practice, these rules were implemented under the guise of combating climate change. However, a closer look reveals they are more likely a calculated blow to consumer freedom and affordability.
The DOE’s new climate rules are set to eliminate approximately 40% of existing tankless water heater models from the market by 2029, including both gas and electric variants. Consumers who currently rely on these cost-effective solutions will be forced to purchase pricier or less efficient alternatives. Industry experts predict an average price increase of $450 per unit, a burden that will disproportionately affect low-income and senior households.
This blatant disregard for the needs of everyday Americans further solidifies concerns that these regulations are less about environmental stewardship and more about coercing citizens into electrification at any cost.
The timing of this decision cannot be ignored. Announced shortly after Christmas and in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, the move seems politically calculated to cement Biden’s climate agenda before Trump can take office. Trump has vowed to undo Biden’s regulatory excesses, aiming to restore energy independence and stimulate economic growth. Yet Biden’s administration appears intent on forcing through these rules in its final days, ensuring the public and future administrations are saddled with their consequences.
Critics from both industry and policy sectors have decried the regulations as arbitrary and counterproductive. Ben Lieberman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, called the move part of a larger agenda to electrify everything, saying, “It bans an entire category of tankless water heaters and the ones that are most affordable.”
Frank Windsor, president of Rinnai America, the nation’s largest manufacturer of tankless water heaters, pointed out the contradiction in targeting high-efficiency models. “If you really want to impact the water heating ruling, you really need to deal with the tank models,” he said. Rinnai’s $70 million investment in a new Georgia facility, encouraged by previous manufacturing incentives, is now at risk of obsolescence.
The American Gas Association has hinted at legal action, suggesting the rule may violate the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which prohibits banning products with unique performance characteristics. This could set the stage for a prolonged legal battle, further demonstrating the hasty and poorly thought-out nature of the Biden administration’s approach.
The narrative of “saving the planet” conveniently benefits manufacturers and corporations positioned to profit from forced electrification. By eliminating affordable and efficient gas-powered options, these regulations effectively funnel consumers toward more expensive alternatives, fattening the pockets of a select few while leaving everyday Americans to bear the cost. The stealthy implementation—without a press release or meaningful public discourse—underscores the administration’s lack of transparency and accountability.
This is not the first time Biden’s climate agenda has targeted household appliances. From gas stoves to refrigerators, the administration has consistently prioritized sweeping electrification mandates over consumer choice. These policies disproportionately harm the very communities they claim to protect, driving up costs and reducing access to reliable options.
The question is not whether climate action is necessary, but whether it must come at the expense of affordability, freedom, and practicality. This latest move—a quiet attack on gas-powered tankless water heaters—highlights the administration’s tendency to overreach, forcing Americans to foot the bill for its agenda.
Regulations like these expose the true motivation behind such policies: not environmental preservation, but profit and control. The elimination of efficient, cost-effective water heaters serves no purpose other than to push an electrification agenda at any cost. Americans deserve better than to be pawns in a game of corporate profiteering disguised as environmentalism.
As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, undoing this regulatory tyranny should be a top priority. The Biden administration’s rushed and underhanded tactics serve as a stark reminder of the need for balanced, thoughtful policies that respect both the environment and the rights of the American people.
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