The Energy Department on Monday said it would extend a freeze on former President Barack Obama’s energy efficiency rules, giving Energy Secretary Rick Perry until the fall to review and potentially change them.
Trump’s regulatory freeze went into effect the same day he was inaugurated, but because Perry wasn’t sworn in until March 3, the administration is giving him nearly triple the amount of time to review the regulations and decide whether or not to move ahead with them.
The regulatory freeze went into effect Jan. 20 and will extend until the end of September for some Energy Department efficiency standards that were part of Obama’s climate change agenda, according to documents to be published in the Federal Register Tuesday. The freeze originally was scheduled to end March 21.
The Energy Department also is extending the freeze for test procedures used in developing new regulations for air compressors, central air conditioners, heat pumps and large walk-in refrigerators and freezers until the middle of summer.
The agency also will freeze a major update to building efficiency standards through Sept. 30.
The extension of the freeze comes as President Trump is expected to issue an executive order rolling back the centerpiece of Obama’s climate change agenda, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.
