gas stove
Credit: Myko M/Unsplash

New efficiency standards for gas stoves emerge amid political heat

In a move ending months of political debate, the Biden administration introduced modest efficiency standards for gas stoves.

Kelsey Tamborrino reports for Politico.


In short:

  • The new rule targets a small fraction of gas stoves, aiming to improve efficiency without a full ban.
  • Both Republicans and Democrats claim victory; the rule is less extensive than initially proposed.
  • The regulation is part of broader efforts to transition the U.S. toward a clean energy economy.

Key quote:

Republicans “shamelessly employed baseless scare tactics on this issue to distract from the reality that they have no solutions of their own for lowering energy costs or reducing emissions.”

— Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey

Why this matters:

This development is crucial in the context of national energy policy and climate change debates. It represents a balanced approach to improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions, without significantly disrupting consumer choices or market dynamics.

Want more context on clean cooking? Be sure to read: Want more clean energy? Focus on people, not technology

EPA Headquarters Trump pollution rollbacks
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EPA repeal of limits on power plant emissions threatens key climate and health protections

It's official: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to scrap pollution limits on greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals from power plants, reversing hard-won Biden-era rules that sought to protect public health and mitigate climate change.

Jake Spring reports for The Washington Post.

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Congress questions who’s in control as Trump budget cuts disrupt NIH research

A Senate panel pressed the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jay Bhattacharya, to explain who is behind sweeping cuts to research funding, as confusion grows over the Trump administration’s influence on the agency’s operations.

Benjamin Mueller reports for The New York Times.

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A surge in toxic algal blooms driven by climate change and fertilizer runoff is devastating wildlife and reshaping ecosystems worldwide.

Patrick Greenfield reports for The Guardian.

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Arctic spring heatwave linked to fossil fuel emissions shattered century-old records

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A dry spring across northwestern Europe coupled with new climate data showing the second-warmest May on record has fueled fears of worsening drought and crop losses.

Helena Horton reports for The Guardian.

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Trump's energy council shifts federal focus to fossil fuels over clean energy

President Donald Trump’s top energy adviser says the administration will sideline renewables and prioritize fossil fuels, aiming to fast-track drilling projects and reduce federal oversight.

Ian M. Stevenson reports for POLITICO.

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Credit: Grandbrothers/BigStock Photo ID: 418204738

NIH staff revolt over deep cuts and political interference in research

A historic internal letter signed by over 300 National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists is challenging their director and the Trump administration over sweeping cuts, politicized grant terminations, and a perceived assault on science.

Katherine J. Wu reports for The Atlantic.

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