Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a 23-state coalition opposing the Biden administration’s new energy efficiency standards for washing machines, arguing they will increase costs and reduce performance.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a coalition of 23 states in opposition to the Biden administration’s new energy efficiency standards for residential washing machines.

The coalition, which includes Florida and 22 other states, argued that the regulations will place undue economic burdens on American households and urges the Department of Energy (DOE) to either withdraw the rule or subject it to a full notice and comment period.

“The Biden administration is pushing radical, stringent, and costly energy policies directly into households,” Moody said in a prepared statement. “As a mom and your Attorney General, I am proud to fight against these senseless policies.”

The DOE recently issued a direct final rule that sets new efficiency standards for washing machines. According to Moody and her colleagues, these standards will increase appliance costs and reduce product performance, adversely affecting middle-class consumers.

In a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the attorneys general cite concerns from industry stakeholders, including major appliance manufacturers and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). AHAM has warned that the new standards will “eliminate consumer features, reduce choice, significantly increase costs, and negatively impact product performance.”

Whirlpool, an AHAM member, also highlighted potential economic consequences. Their research indicates a 25 percent increase in consumer costs and a 31 percent decrease in industry net present value, which the company claims could result in over 8,000 American job losses.

The coalition further criticizes the rulemaking process, claiming it relied on support from a small group of advocacy organizations and states while ignoring broader concerns. They argue that by law, the DOE must consider input from a wide range of perspectives before finalizing such regulations.

The letter calls on the DOE to reconsider the rule or allow for public commentary to ensure a thorough evaluation of its impact. The attorneys general believe the current approach undermines the regulatory process and poses significant economic and practical challenges for consumers.

“This direct final rule will impact the lives of nearly all Americans,” the letter states. “Given the widespread impact of the rule, DOE should afford the public a chance to comment on a regulation that will reach its way into homes and meaningfully consider that feedback.”

The attorneys general from the following states joined Moody in submitting the letter: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.