Efficiency Increase Would Increase Fuel Consumption, Groups Argue
WASHINGTON — John Somerhalder, chairman, president, and CEO of AGL Resources and past chairman of the American Gas Association (AGA), recently testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power commending four specific legislative provisions included in the committee’s energy-efficiency and accountability discussion draft designed to remove barriers to the use of clean, energy-efficient, cost-effective natural gas.
In March, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a rule mandating natural gas furnaces must be manufactured to meet a 92 percent or higher energy-efficiency specification. At first glance, the rule appears to be a positive step forward for energy efficiency, but Somerhalder argued the DOE’s proposal may create a number of counterproductive and unintended consequences that could increase energy use and impose an undue burden on consumers. Section 4124 of the discussion draft addresses the development of fair, effective, and nonregressive energy-efficiency standards for residential natural gas furnaces.