The initiative, a joint effort between the White House and the DOE, is hailed by proponents as a historic step toward promoting green energy technologies, creating jobs, and reinforcing America’s energy supply chain. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized the potential for American-made electric heat pumps to enhance energy efficiency in homes and businesses while fostering the growth of high-quality, well-paying manufacturing jobs.
The awarded funds, made possible by the DPA invocation, will be directed to companies such as Copeland, Honeywell International, Mitsubishi Electric, and York International Corporation, all major players in the industry. The projects funded under this initiative are expected to advance the manufacturing of industrial, commercial, and residential heat pump technology.
Critics, however, argue that the use of taxpayer dollars for this purpose amounts to what they describe as “shameful corporate welfare.” Some skeptics, including Ben Lieberman from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, question the necessity of government intervention, asserting that consumers should decide on their preferred energy sources without government influence.
This development comes in the wake of recent DOE regulations targeting traditional gas-powered furnaces. The finalized regulations, set to take effect in 2028, require furnaces to achieve a higher annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) as part of broader efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Some industry representatives, like Karen Harbert, President and CEO of the American Gas Association, express disappointment, suggesting that the DPA is being misused to advance policies contradictory to the nation’s energy position.
The Defense Production Act, originally enacted during the Cold War, provides the president with broad authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of national defense. President Biden has previously invoked the DPA for various purposes related to addressing climate change as a national emergency.
Unbelievable! Biden invokes wartime powers to fund electric heaters as he cracks down on gas appliances.-It’s time for the 25th Amendment to be invoked for the good of our country! Stay tuned. Please share. -Lthttps://t.co/TakzAPqSHH
— Lt Steven Rogers (R-NJ) (@LtStevenRogers) November 17, 2023
Sounds like something a tyrant would do in the name of ‘climate change.’
“Biden Invokes Wartime Powers to Fund Home Appliances Crackdown with Taxpayer Money”https://t.co/5TU4tTH2mu
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) November 19, 2023