The Biden administration finalized energy efficiency regulations targeting distribution transformers, which are vital for managing the flow of electricity from power stations to consumers. In an announcement Thursday morning, the Department of Energy said the regulations would help accelerate the development of green energy nationwide and are part of the Biden administration's 'commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
While the new standards require transformers to be more energy efficient, they also represent a scaled-down version of the regulations DOE first proposed in January 2023. Under the original plan, 95% of distribution transformers would have been required to be made with amorphous alloy and manufacturers would have three years to comply. That proposal was widely criticized by power providers and utility companies that characterized it as unrealistic.
Finkel, whose group represents companies that provide service to 42 million residents across 47 states, said the regulations are 'much improved' compared to DOE's initial proposal, a plan he said would have 'upended the entire market.