Why does the IRA include an option for families to replace gas stoves?
Decades of scientific research have established the detrimental effects of indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves. Nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter, and carbon monoxide are byproducts of gas stoves, all of which pose serious health risks. Recent studies have also revealed that the methane gas used for cooking contains benzene, a known carcinogen that can seep into our kitchens and homes, even when the stoves are turned off.
The accumulation of these pollutants within our homes reaches levels that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems unhealthy, even if they were present outdoors. Additionally, there are no government agencies that regulate indoor air quality, which allows gas stoves to be sold without warning labels or ventilation standards, leaving families vulnerable to the hidden dangers lurking in their kitchens.
The Biden Administration introduced the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022 as a means of reducing the federal budget deficit. However, the IRA also aims to lower drug prices and invest in American energy resources, while also moving toward increased clean energy production.
In hopes of promoting cleaner energy, the Biden Administration provided American families with plenty of options to take part in promoting clean domestic energy. One option is for American families to swap out their gas stoves for an electric stove, which also helps to decrease indoor pollution from toxic chemicals like methane. Normally, swapping out a home utility such as a stove would be an expense that the average family could not afford. However, thanks to the IRA, American families now have the opportunity to change their old gas stoves out for more efficient and safer electric stoves in an affordable way.
Is this a government mandate?
Making this change is completely voluntary, and is not mandated or required in the IRA in any way. If anything, the IRA simply makes the change from a gas to an electric stove more accessible and affordable for low and middle-income families who want to make the change for decreased utility costs or health concerns. The IRA can aid in this stove upgrade by offering families rebates if they switch out their gas stove for an electric stove. This rebate could be as much as $840, which in most cases could cover the majority of the upgrade costs and allows families to make their own choice about their home and health.
Why is the EPA using IRA resources to finally address this issue for our families?
The health consequences of gas stove pollution have been well-documented over the course of nearly 50 years. Cooking with a gas stove poses the same asthma risk for children as living with secondhand smoke, and nitrogen dioxide pollution, which is 50-400% higher in homes with gas stoves, has been directly linked to asthma.
Furthermore, approximately 1-in-8 childhood asthma cases in the United States can be attributed to gas stove use. If gas stoves were absent from their homes, over 650,000 children would be spared from this chronic respiratory condition. Additionally, studies conducted by Harvard University and California-based researchers have exposed the presence of toxic chemicals, including benzene, in the gas used for cooking. Benzene levels were found to be alarmingly high, comparable to living with secondhand smoke and exceeding established limits.
What leading public health organizations have said about gas stoves?
Leading public health organizations have expressed deep concern about the health risks to families that own and use gas stoves. The American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility have all highlighted the need to address the health hazards posed by gas cooking. These organizations have issued warnings and embarked on educational initiatives to ensure that physicians, healthcare providers, and the public are aware of the dangers lurking in our kitchens.
The dangers of gas stoves have been known for a long time. As early as 1839, industry leaders recognized the various health risks associated with gas stoves. Consumer Reports highlighted in 1982 that children from gas-stove homes experienced a higher incidence of respiratory illness and impaired lung function compared to those from homes with electric stoves. Even the EPA acknowledged in 1986 that the pollutants emitted by gas stoves could have harmful health effects and called for further investigation.
What else is being done to address healthier options for families?
To address energy consumption and promote consumer savings, the Department of Energy (DoE) has implemented new efficiency standards for stoves, including gas models. These regulations, based on years of research and required by Congress, will come into effect for manufacturers in 2027. It is important to recognize that these standards aim to make stoves more efficient and conserve energy, rather than banning gas stoves altogether.
The Department of Energy has no interest in impeding any families' opportunity to choose which appliances they want to use. The DoE guidance simply recognizes the severe health hazards that come with gas stoves and aims to conserve energy while also limiting families' exposure to toxic chemicals.
Who is opposing this provision in the IRA? Why?
Opposition to basic consumer protections is led by the fossil fuel industry. Organizations funded by oil and gas industry giants like Koch and ExxonMobil have worked to downplay the risks associated with gas stoves. It is worth noting that the industry heavily donates to House Republicans, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. 17 of the top 20 recipients of oil industry donations to House members in 2022, went to House Republicans. These efforts, spanning from the early 20th century to modern-day social media influencer campaigns, have perpetuated the false notion that gas stoves are "clean burning."
What is the “Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act”?
In contrast to efforts to protect public health, Senators Manchin and Cruz introduced the "Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act," which could impede future regulation to reduce indoor air pollution. This bill would prevent the CPSC from enacting health-protective measures if they lead to an increase in gas stove prices. This is largely an explicit overreach of legislative power to take away the choice of families to choose which forms of appliances they want to use.
The Republican-led House has claimed these efforts to protect families are a “war on gas stoves” and has passed similar legislation.
Meanwhile, 57% of parents in households with gas stoves are willing to switch from gas stoves to electric alternatives. The issue of gas stoves is not nearly as polarizing as some lawmakers in Washington DC would like to present it as. Families simply want the opportunity to make their own choices about their homes and health, and the IRA gives them that choice in an affordable and accessible way.