Due to the possibility of respiratory problems, a government agency is prepared to enact a comprehensive ban on natural gas stoves in order to protect public health.
Natural gas stoves, which are said to be present in 40% of American households, might possibly be phased out by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission this winter. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Richard Trumka Jr., the chairman of the CPSC, provided insight into how modifications may be made via public comment, perhaps leading to bans or emissions regulations on some typical kitchen appliances.
TRENDING: NEW Trump Diamond Bills Will Drive Liberals Crazy!
“This is a hidden hazard,” In an interview that was published on January 9, Trumka informed the news outlet. “Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.”
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a request for information on Jan. 9 to learn more about any potential concerns caused by gas stoves and to solicit suggestions for ways to address those risks, but no regulatory action has yet been suggested. The officials of the agency were not to respond despite The Epoch Times’ enquiries before the publication of this article.
Trumka informed reporters last month that such a request for information and feedback “is the first step in what could be a long journey toward regulating gas stoves.” Jake Trumka, a Biden appointment and the late Richard Trumka’s (former AFL-CIO Chief) son, brings decades of expertise from one of America’s most powerful unions to his role as a congressional Democratic aide.
He said at the time that there is a “real possibility,” of banning the production and import of new gas stoves. The CPSC “could get a regulation on the books before this time next year,” he added, if there is significant public pressure.
Industry executives argue that natural gas stoves don’t generate any more harmful pollutants than other kinds of cooking equipment, and hence they should not be banned. Both the American Gas Association and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers have opposed a prospective ban.
“Ventilation is really where this discussion should be, rather than banning one particular type of technology,” According to Bloomberg, Jill Notini, a vice president of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers “Banning one type of a cooking appliance is not going to address the concerns about overall indoor air quality. We may need some behavior change, we may need [people] to turn on their hoods when cooking.”
The president of the American Gas Association (AGA), Karen Harbert, recently defended her position that neither the EPA nor the Consumer Product Safety Commission have significant control over AGA’s activities. “present gas ranges as a significant contributor to adverse air quality or health hazard in their technical or public information literature, guidance, or requirements.”
“The most practical, realistic way to achieve a sustainable future where energy is clean, as well as safe, reliable and affordable, is to ensure it includes natural gas and the infrastructure that transports it,” Harbert said.
Despite being a common option for kitchens, natural gas stoves have lately come under scrutiny because of the air pollutants they create when in use. Methane leaks may occur even when the stove is not in use, according to some research, which has health experts at the EPA and WHO very concerned.
In December 2022, a groundbreaking study conducted by an environmental group uncovered the devastating link between gas stove pollution and 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases. Parents worldwide will undoubtedly be alarmed by the findings, and for good reason!
Californians must stop using natural gas-fired furnaces and water heaters by 2030 since the Air Resources Board overwhelmingly decided to outlaw their sale. In the fight to lessen California’s carbon impact, this represents a historic achievement.
“We need to take every action we can to deliver on our commitments to protect public health from the adverse impacts of air pollution, and this strategy identifies how we can do just that,” After the ban was approved, Liane Randolph, the chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), issued a statement on September 22.
Like other organizations, CARB asserted that the change would be advantageous. “many low-income and disadvantaged communities.”
Conservative organizations have aggressively resisted limitations on gas-powered appliances and furnaces in the face of increasing environmental concerns.
“Banning natural gas would restrict consumers’ ability to choose the energy source they might prefer. A big reason that families like natural gas is because it wins out on cost,” In a 2020 article, the Heritage Foundation made a statement.
In 2020, the American Gas Association added that “households that use natural gas for heating, cooking, and clothes drying save an average of $879 per year compared to homes using electricity for those applications.”
