Energy choice bill gains momentum

A federal bill aimed at preventing governments from restricting homeowners’ choice of HVAC equipment has garnered industrywide support — and is gaining steam. 

What’s happening: Introduced by two congressmen in June, the Energy Choice Act calls for prohibiting state and local governments from banning or restricting energy services based on the type or source of energy, including natural gas. 

• The bill comes in response to several states’ efforts to ban or phase out specific energy sources in homes and buildings, and was a point of focus in two separate energy hearings this September.
• It’s also received support from dozens of industry organizations. 

Why it matters: “These mandates unnecessarily increase costs, reduce reliability, and eliminate consumer choice, creating uncertainty for HVACR professionals,” ACCA writes. 

• “The HVACR industry is already navigating historic challenges,” it adds. “Eliminating fuels from the marketplace would only compound these pressures and leave America with fewer options.”

Zoom in: While the bill has moved slowly in the Senate, garnering just five co-sponsors, momentum has grown in the House, where it counts 114 co-sponsors, nearly 20 percent of whom have signed on since October 3. 

What’s next: The bill is in the first stage of the legislative process and awaits committee review before any potential vote.