Biden withdraws Energy nominee amid Manchin opposition over stove rule

President Biden on Thursday withdrew his nominee to lead the government’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) pulled his support over the administration’s decision to move forward with new stove regulations.

Manchin, who chairs the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee canceled a vote to advance the nomination of Jeffrey Marootian to lead the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in May.

The senator particularly cited the administration’s decision to move forward with energy efficiency regulations that apply to gas and electric stoves. 

Manchin said in May he would no longer support Marootian’s nomination after the energy efficiency office proposed the efficiency rule, which is expected to apply to about half of the gas stoves on the market.

“While I appreciate that these rules would only apply to new stoves, my view is that it’s part of a broader, Administration-wide effort to eliminate fossil fuels. For that reason, I’m not comfortable moving forward with Mr. Marootian at this time,” he said in a written statement in May. 

The senator is one of a chorus of voices, including many Republicans, who have opposed efforts to regulate gas stoves. The issue boiled over in January when a consumer safety regulator suggested a ban was on the table. Since then, other regulators have said they are not seeking a ban.

Spokespeople for the White House, Energy Department and Manchin did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill on the withdrawal.

Manchin is up for reelection next year in West Virginia, a deeply red state easily won by former President Trump in the last two presidential elections.