Republicans Advance Bills to Reverse Energy Efficiency Efforts

Stricter energy efficiency standards for home appliances and federal buildings would be scrapped under bills a House panel advanced Wednesday.

The Energy and Commerce Committee approved Republican legislation (H.R. 4758) that would repeal a home rebate program encouraging consumers to buy more energy-efficiency products, as well as another bill (H.R. 4626) that would prevent the Energy Department from mandating any new energy efficiency standards for appliances like clothes and dishwashers that are not technologically feasible and economically justified.

The two bills were among several the panel advanced targeting what Republicans argue are costly and burdensome energy ...