US appeals court voids Biden-era efficiency rule for stoves, ovens

Oldham, a Trump appointee, said the Energy Department relied on support for its proposed rule from several industry groups, "environmental activists," California, Massachusetts and New York.

The judge said "it cannot be contended with a straight face" that those Democratic-led states fairly represented the entire country.

He also said the department failed to consider whether making appliances more technologically complex in the name of efficiency would reduce reliability or increase associated costs.

"The previous administration’s gas-stove measures were among its most controversial energy proposals," Oldham wrote. "The idea that all that controversy could be elided using the DFR — a mechanism designed for consensus rulemaking — is untenable."

Circuit Judges Catharina Haynes and James Ho joined Oldham's decision. Haynes is an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, and Ho was appointed by Trump.