New York, other states challenge President Trump over energy efficiency
NEW YORK, April 3 (Reuters) - A coalition of U.S. states and municipalities has begun legal action against President Donald Trump's administration, accusing it of violating federal law by delaying energy efficiency standards for several consumer and commercial products.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who announced the legal action, said enacting the six standards would dramatically reduce air pollution and save energy, eliminating close to $24 billion of costs for consumers and businesses.
Schneiderman said the standards cover ceiling fans, commercial boilers, compressors, portable air conditioners, power supply equipment, and walk-in coolers and freezers.
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As part of their legal action, the states and municipalities have filed a petition with the federal appeals court in New York challenging what they called the administration's illegal delay in implementing efficiency standards for ceiling fans.
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Joining New York in that petition are the states of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, as well as New York City and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The U.S. Department of Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Andrew Hay)
