Energy Outlook

By: Jacob Kim

In what it called the “largest deregulatory effort in history,” the U.S. Department of Energy under the Trump administration launched a sweeping plan to dismantle dozens of federal energy efficiency rules. These rollbacks targeted appliances used in nearly every American household — including stoves, ovens, dishwashers, clothes washers, showerheads, and microwaves — all of which currently follow standards designed to conserve energy and water. The proposal also extended beyond appliances, aiming to revise rules related to oil purchasing for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and to strip nondiscrimination protections for federal grant recipients.

While the move does not eliminate the regulations immediately, it begins the formal process of dismantling them — a process the Energy Department claimed was accelerated by a specially assembled team working “around the clock.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed it as a win for consumers and an attack on what he called “Green New Deal fantasies.” Yet critics argue this is a calculated assault on environmental protections, one that would flood the market with inefficient, outdated appliances and undermine both climate action and household budgets.

Environmental and consumer advocates were quick to respond. Andrew deLaski, director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, warned that reversing these rules would “dramatically raise costs for families” while violating legal provisions that prevent the government from weakening energy-saving standards. These efficiency rules were never just about ideology — they were practical, science-backed tools that lowered emissions and saved Americans billions in utility bills.

From the broader climate perspective, this rollback sends a dangerous message: that short-term political victories matter more than long-term environmental survival. At a time when global leaders — including the newly elected Pope Leo XIV — are urging urgent action on climate change, dismantling these rules undercuts any credibility the U.S. has in the climate fight.

We’ve discussed before how renewable technologies like agrivoltaics, hydrogen fuel stacks, and smart-grid systems represent the future of clean energy. But policies shape markets. When government removes incentives and standards, innovation slows. Worse, it gives polluting industries license to resist change — and consumers pay the price, both economically and environmentally.

These regulations weren’t about restricting choice — they were about ensuring the appliances we rely on every day work smarter, not harder. They were part of a broader moral responsibility, echoing the values now championed by Pope Leo XIV: a reciprocal relationship with nature, protection for the most vulnerable, and a shift from words to meaningful action.

Deregulation in the name of “freedom” might sound appealing, but in practice, it’s freedom to pollute, to waste, and to stall the urgent transition we need. Climate change doesn’t wait for politics to catch up. Neither should we.