The Department of Energy announced Monday it is delaying enactment of a Biden-era rule restricting fossil fuel use in buildings, adding to administration efforts to roll back efficiency regulations.
In a Federal Register notice, DOE said it is moving the compliance date for the final regulation to May 1, 2026, a year later than expected. The department said it was undertaking a review of the standards to ensure they comply with Trump administration priorities.
“This pause will ensure that our federal buildings are able to utilize the most efficient power available, lowering costs and reducing regulatory overreach,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.
The Biden plan, which targeted on-site combustion from appliances such as heaters and boilers, required new or majorly renovated buildings to cut fossil fuel use 90 percent for projects started between 2025 and 2029. It would have to cut fossil fuel use 100 percent after 2030.
