Heat index values climb as high as 100 degrees Tuesday

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

California can now begin enforcing new minimum standards for light bulb efficiency, 

 Tuesday.  It's the latest split between the state and the Trump administration, which has moved to reverse the same standards on a national level.

The judge rejected a petition for a temporary block by two industry groups, the 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 it's "conferring with counsel on next steps."  

The standards were adopted by the California Energy Commission (CEC) after the Trump administration recently moved to 

The light bulb efficiency standards originally passed under President George W. Bush, then were expanded during the Obama administration. That expanded version includes specialty light bulbs like those used in bathroom vanities and recessed lighting, as well as candle-shaped lights.  

The Obama-era rule aimed to phase out all incandescent and halogen bulbs, and replace them with LED bulbs that meet a minimum energy efficiency of 45 lumens per watt. 

(Still not up on your lumens-watt conversion? Here's some 

, LED bulbs are among the most energy efficient in the market today, using 75-80% less energy than regular ones. 

In November, 16 states, including California and New York, 

 over its reversal of the latest standards, and the California Energy Commission decided to adopt the original federal legislation. That's when the two industry groups petitioned for a temporary restraining order. 

The judge denied that petition Tuesday, saying the efficiency standards have "garnered significant support from consumer groups."

The judge's decision "keeps California at the forefront of the movement to resist the Trump Department of Energy's efforts to tie Americans to the technology of the past," said 

, director of the Center for Energy Efficiency at the 

According to the NRDC, the new standards will save California residents up to $2.4 billion on their annual utility bills. 

Business and Economic News

Environmental News

Rhitu Chatterjee

Author

California and other states are challenging the Trump administration over its reversal of standards for energy-efficient lightbulbs. 

California will enforce the energy-efficient lightbulb rule Trump wants to reverse

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox