According to Newsweek and others on January 9, Joseph Biden suffered a heavy blow in the U.S. justice department due to a crushing defeat in a lawsuit related to an executive order issued on the day he took office. Court of Appeals Judge Oldham criticized his decision as "arbitrary and capricious". The ruling allegedly follows legal action by 11 Republican-led states to sue for new regulations aimed at improving the efficiency of dishwashers and washing machines.
In a Jan. 8 ruling, Justice Andrew Oldham said it was unclear whether the Department of Energy (DOE) had the statutory authority to regulate water for dishwashers and washing machines. He even claimed that the new rules may not reduce water consumption.
In March of this year, the U.S. Department of Energy announced plans to implement energy efficiency measures starting in 2027. The plan aims to save consumers $3 billion over the next three decades, save 240 billion gallons of water, and prevent 12.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm emphasized that the move is committed to saving Americans money while promoting innovation in the fight against climate change.
Bureaucrats can't decide what type of appliances Americans use."
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who was involved in the case, stressed that the federal government cannot prescribe the types of appliances used by Americans. Judge Oldham, appointed by former Trump in the United States, argued that even though the Department of Energy has the authority to regulate the use of water for energy-consuming appliances, it has not fully taken into account the negative consequences of its revisions.
Critics argue that interfering with consumer goods is ultra vires, especially after concerns about attempts to ban gas stoves. These concerns, while dismissed, persist as an argument that climate change policies limit Americans' freedoms.
The court's ruling highlights the DOE's changes to dishwasher and washing machine-related regulations, in particular the repeal of the 2020 rule that excluded certain appliances from existing requirements. The change sparked a lawsuit.
Oldham argues that there is "ample evidence" that these standards lead to inefficiencies in consumer water use. He criticized the Department of Energy for allowing Americans to use more energy and water because the purported "energy-efficient" appliance function did not work. Therefore, the court remanded the matter back to the Department of Energy for further action based on the judge's opinion.
Since taking office, Joseph Biden has made tackling climate change and facilitating the transition to renewable energy a priority, according to the United States**. The court's ruling noted that the DOE's water-use efficiency changes stemmed from an executive order issued on the day Biden took office.
Wen Liang Ishikawa.