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BULB

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">----</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">freedom globes?&nbsp; this is for incandescent in general</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></p><div class="g" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div data-hveid="CAQQAA" data-ved="2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFSgAMAV6BAgEEAA"><div class="rc" style="position: relative;"><div class="r" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.57;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAFegQIBBAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" /></font><h3 class="LC20lb" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.3;"><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAFegQIBBAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAFegQIBBAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" /><a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAFegQIBBAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Ruling allows California to start enforcing efficiency standards ...</a></font></h3>
<div class="TbwUpd" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.57; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 1px;"><cite class="iUh30 bc" style="font-style: normal; padding-top: 1px; line-height: 1.5;">https://www.sfchronicle.com › news › article › Ruling-allows-California-to...</cite></div><div class="action-menu ab_ctl" style="display: inline; position: relative; margin: 1px 3px 0px; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle;"><a class="GHDvEf ab_button" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=california+bulb+eficiency+news&oq=california+bulb+eficiency+news&aqs=chrome..69i57.8999j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#" id="am-b5" aria-label="Result Options" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" role="button" jsaction="m.tdd;keydown:m.hbke;keypress:m.mskpe" data-ved="2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQ7B0wBXoECAQQAw" style="border-radius: 0px; cursor: default; font-weight: bold; height: 12px; line-height: 27px; margin: 1px 0px 2px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transition: none 0s ease 0s; 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left: 0px; visibility: hidden;"><ol style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><li class="action-menu-item ab_dropdownitem" role="menuitem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; list-style: none; user-select: none; cursor: pointer;"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php%2B%26cd%3D6%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAFegQIBBAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;" /></li></ol></div></div></div><div class="s" style="max-width: 48em; line-height: 1.57;"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php%2B%26cd%3D6%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAFegQIBBAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;"><span class="st" style="line-height: 1.57; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="f" style="line-height: 1.57;">20 hours ago -&nbsp;</span>A federal judge has allowed&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">California</span>&nbsp;to start enforcing new&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">efficiency</span>&nbsp;standards for light&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">bulbs</span>&nbsp;on Wednesday while fighting the Trump&nbsp;...</font></span></a></div></div></div></div><div class="g" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 27px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div data-hveid="CAEQAA" data-ved="2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFSgAMAZ6BAgBEAA"><div class="rc" style="position: relative;"><div class="r" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.57;"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:bD1r3lF5DGMJ:https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Ruling-allows-California-to-start-enforcing-14942454.php%2B%26cd%3D6%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAFegQIBBAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAGegQIARAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" /></font></font><h3 class="LC20lb" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.3;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAGegQIARAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></a><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAGegQIARAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" /><a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQFjAGegQIARAB" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">California defies Trump Administration on lightbulb efficiency ...</a></font></font></h3>
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left: 0px; visibility: hidden;"><ol style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"><li class="action-menu-item ab_dropdownitem" role="menuitem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; list-style: none; user-select: none; cursor: pointer;"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/%2B%26cd%3D7%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAGegQIARAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;" /></li></ol></div></div></div><div class="s" style="max-width: 48em; line-height: 1.57;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/%2B%26cd%3D7%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAGegQIARAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;"><span class="st" style="line-height: 1.57; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span class="f" style="line-height: 1.57;">Nov 15, 2019 -&nbsp;</span>Utility industry&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">news</span>&nbsp;and analysis for energy professionals. ... more&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">efficient</span>&nbsp;than incandescent&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">bulbs</span>, about a week after&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">California</span>&nbsp;and other&nbsp;...</font></span></a></font></div></div></div></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/%2B%26cd%3D7%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAGegQIARAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4" color="#000000"></font></a></font></p><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a class="fl" href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search%3Fq%3Dcache:vkbf7uIAvKoJ:https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-defies-trump-administration-on-lightbulb-efficiency-standards/567362/%2B%26cd%3D7%26hl%3Den%26ct%3Dclnk%26gl%3Dus&ved=2ahUKEwjk1erRl-PmAhVCVs0KHdhmA1wQIDAGegQIARAF" style="text-decoration-line: none; cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"></font></a></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/trump-wages-war-against-the-true-enemy-of-the-state-le-1840611817"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://earther.gizmodo.com/trump-wages-war-against-the-true-enemy-of-the-state-le-1840611817</font></a></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Upgrading lightbulbs is one of the easiest, straightforward ways consumers can&nbsp;reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. And yet the president of the United States is determined to do everything in his power to ensure our individual emissions remain as high as they can possibly be. And that means finishing his<b>&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" internal="Internal" link="link" https="https" earther.gizmodo.com="earther.gizmodo.com" trumps-energy-department-swoops-in-to-save-us-from-tyra-1837889616="trumps-energy-department-swoops-in-to-save-us-from-tyra-1837889616" metric25="metric25" href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/trumps-energy-department-swoops-in-to-save-us-from-tyra-1837889616" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">war on lightbulbs</a></span>.</b></font></font></div><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" style="" face="Times New Roman"><b>The Department of Energy&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" www.energy.gov="www.energy.gov" articles="articles" department-energy-issues-final-determination-general-service-incandescent-lamps-finds-more="department-energy-issues-final-determination-general-service-incandescent-lamps-finds-more" metric25="metric25" href="https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-issues-final-determination-general-service-incandescent-lamps-finds-more" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">announced</a></span>&nbsp;Friday a&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" www.energy.gov="www.energy.gov" sites="sites" prod="prod" files="files" f70="f70" gsil_final_rule.pdf="gsil_final_rule.pdf" metric25="metric25" href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/12/f70/gsil_final_rule.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">final determination</a></span>&nbsp;to keep standards for incandescent lightbulbs as is because this is the world we live in now.</b> Who cares that they&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" greenamerica.org="greenamerica.org" green-living="green-living" cfls-vs-leds-better-bulbs="cfls-vs-leds-better-bulbs" metric25="metric25" href="https://greenamerica.org/green-living/cfls-vs-leds-better-bulbs" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">emit more heat than light or die quicker</a></span>&nbsp;than more modern bulbs like LEDs?! Who cares that they’ll help you save money on your energy bill?! Who cares that they’ll help make buildings more energy-efficient in the long run?! Who the hell cares!?

This is the mentality of Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" www.cnn.com="www.cnn.com" politics="politics" trump-orange-light-bulbs="trump-orange-light-bulbs" index.html="index.html" metric25="metric25" href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/13/politics/trump-orange-light-bulbs/index.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">has ranted</a></span>&nbsp;that LED lightbulbs make his skin look orange.&nbsp;The dude&nbsp;<em style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; line-height: inherit;">always</em>&nbsp;looks orange. This is the orangest man who has ever lived. But OK, sure. Whatever.

...The Department of Energy&nbsp;announced it rollback noting that&nbsp;the now rolled back lightbulb rule&nbsp;would’ve driven up the price of incandescent bulb more than&nbsp;300 percent. Which yes, the rule would’ve forced incandescent bulb makers to innovate while trying to lower costs. That’s how good&nbsp;regulations ensure the market works. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette in a statement accompanying the rules change that&nbsp;“[i]nnovation and technology are already driving progress.” The rolled back rule would’ve sped along that innovation but OK, sure. Whatever.</font></font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">You know what I choose to light my home? Philips Hue Smart Bulbs. I don’t have to worry about them making me look too orange because I can make the light&nbsp;any color I want. Oh, and energy-efficient LED bulbs like mine save&nbsp;me nearly five times the annual savings than if I were using whack ass incandescent bulbs.</font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">The Department of Energy itself&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" www.energy.gov="www.energy.gov" energysaver="energysaver" save-electricity-and-fuel="save-electricity-and-fuel" lighting-choices-save-you-money="lighting-choices-save-you-money" how-energy-efficient-light="how-energy-efficient-light" metric25="metric25" href="https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/how-energy-efficient-light" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">has said</a></span>&nbsp;energy-efficient bulbs can save homeowners $75 each year. Incandescent bills will cost, on average, about $4.80 a year in energy costs. LEDs like mine? A dollar! These newer bulbs do cost more upfront, but the average person doesn’t have to be a bougie bitch like me and buy smart bulbs. Buy a regular-ass LED! And save money on your energy bill!</font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">We’re also already on track to convert to LEDs around the U.S., as Trump’s peeps were sure to note. By 2035, LEDs should make up 84 percent of all lighting.</font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">The consequences of this rollback won’t make or break the fight to protect the planet, but it will make the transition toward energy efficiency that much longer and harder. The announcement feels oddly timely as people celebrate the holidays with extra colorful lights decorating their homes and yards. In fact, all the energy we use lighting up our cribs for the holiday season results in&nbsp;<span style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><a class="sc-145m8ut-0 idsfNL js_link sc-1out364-0 fwjlmD" data-ga="[[" embedded="Embedded" url="Url" external="External" link="link" https="https" phys.org="phys.org" news="news" christmas-energy-entire-countries.html="christmas-energy-entire-countries.html" metric25="metric25" href="https://phys.org/news/2015-12-christmas-energy-entire-countries.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-out 0s; box-shadow: rgb(10, 123, 194) 0px -2px 0px inset;">more energy usage</a></span>&nbsp;than some countries (such as El Salvador, where my roots lie) do in a year! A year! That’s insane. And yet another&nbsp;good argument for why LEDs make sense.</font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">So what’s the issue then in ensuring incandescents don’t take up space in our store aisles? What is your obsession with lightbulbs, Trump!? And why do you hate the cool new ones so much?</font></p><p class="sc-77igqf-0 hJpRRP" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 29px; max-width: 636px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">I truly don’t understand, but&nbsp;I guess the president loves doing everything possible to continue his war against the planet. His latest battle with lightbulbs is just a small piece of that.</font></p><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p><h3 class="yiv0018033476null" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 22.5px; letter-spacing: -0.5px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Light bulb manufacturers score victory with new Trump energy rule</font></font></h3><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" /><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The Department of Energy finalized a rule Wednesday that will prevent Obama-era efficiency standards for light bulbs from being implemented. The decision was cheered by lighting manufacturers that have spent the last two years lobbying Congress and the DOE to reverse new energy efficiency standards that would have affected billions of light bulbs sold in the U.S.</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><strong><a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="https://opensecrets.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa7cf182bf7041258bb250f9d&id=778933fe17&e=44dfb36771" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read more</a></strong></span></span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></span></span></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Department of Energy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/04/trump-rolls-back-requirements-on-energy-saving-light-bulbs.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">finalized a rule Wednesday&nbsp;</a>that will prevent Obama-era efficiency standards for commonly used light bulbs from being implemented.&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The decision was cheered by lighting manufacturers that have spent the last two years lobbying Congress and the DOE to reverse new energy efficiency standards that would have affected billions of light bulbs sold in the U.S. The stricter standards were set to go into effect in January 2020.</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Environmental groups, on the other hand, expressed disappointment and argued the decision would worsen the climate by enabling the sale of inefficient bulbs that contribute to carbon dioxide emissions.&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000027840&year=2019" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">National Electrical Manufacturers Association</a>&nbsp;applauded the Trump administration’s new rules in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nema.org/news/Pages/Electrical-Manufacturers-Support-DOE-Revision-of-General-Service-Lamp-Definition.aspx" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">statement Wednesday</a>, arguing the Obama-era efficiency standards were not feasible for manufacturers producing certain kinds of lamps. It said the rule change “will not impact the market’s continuing, rapid adoption of energy-saving lighting in the next few years.”</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The trade group, which represents major lighting manufacturers such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000125" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">General Electric</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000046355&year=2019" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Acuity Brands</a>, fiercely&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060054114" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">fought new DOE efficiency standards</a>&nbsp;when they were finalized on President Barack Obama’s final full day in office. It spent $5 million on lobbying since the start of 2017 and dispatched dozens of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientlbs.php?id=D000027840&year=2018" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">revolving door lobbyists</a>.</span>&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Trump administration cited statistics from lighting trade groups in its&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-18940.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">final rule</a>, noting that the Obama-era regulations would place costs on retailers that have to replace their outdated bulbs. DOE&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-18940.pdf?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pi+subscription+mailing+list" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">argued in its new rule</a>&nbsp;that the new efficiency standards were not consistent with a 2007 law that requires the agency to phase out inefficient bulbs by 2020.</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The environmental advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000036133" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Natural Resources Defense Council</a>, which spent $2.4 million on lobbying since 2017, disagreed. The group said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrdc.org/media/2019/190904" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">press release</a>&nbsp;it will “explore all options, including litigation, to defend these critically important lighting efficiency standards.”</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px;" />The new DOE rule is a win for light bulb manufacturers. But the lighting trade group, along with prominent air conditioning and appliance manufacturers, are urging Congress to take the next step and amend the 1975 law that requires DOE to periodically craft new efficiency standards.&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00398800&cycle=2020" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">American Lighting Association</a>, a lighting industry trade association that does not deploy registered lobbyists,&nbsp;<a href="https://alamembers.com/Government-Engagement/ArtMID/1149/ArticleID/559/ALA-Members-Staff-Discuss-Key-Industry-Issues-in-DC" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">flew its members</a>&nbsp;to Washington in May to push for changes to “modernize” the 43-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/94/s622/text" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Energy Policy and Conservation Act</a>. The group said it had lunch with Daniel Simmons, who oversees the DOE’s energy efficiency programs. Simmons previously worked for the conservative Institute for Energy Research, a nonprofit that fights renewable energy efforts.</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000024172&year=2019" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers</a>&nbsp;has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aham.org/AHAMdocs/Main%20Site/Association%20of%20Home%20Appliance%20Manufacturers%20-%20House%20EPCA%20Reform%20Testimony%206.10.16%20%2800049397%29.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">called on lawmakers</a>&nbsp;to change the act by excluding some products that already operate at high efficiency and to require DOE to consider the impact of new regulations. Representing industry giants such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000069177&year=2018" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">LG Electronics</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000001063&year=2019" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">GE Appliances</a>, the trade group is on pace to break its own lobbying spending record in 2019, shelling out $675,000 through the first half of the year.</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>“More stringent federal efficiency standards are likely to increase costs for manufacturers and consumers without providing meaningful energy savings,</b>” the group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aham.org/AHAM/Energy_Efficiency/EPCA_Reform/AHAM/EnergyEfficiency/EPCA_Reform.aspx?hkey=dbfab62c-8a82-4155-a552-7cd2ed388493" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">said in a press release</a>.</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/client_reports.php?id=D000046526&year=2019" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Air Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration Institute</a>&nbsp;shelled out a record $1 million in cold hard cash last year and another $552,000 through the first half of 2019. It reported dispatching lobbyists to DOE to lobby for “needed reforms” to the law to “improve the regulatory process and accountability.”</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" /><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In February, DOE&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/process-rule-notice.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">proposed changes</a>&nbsp;to slow down the rulemaking process for setting new efficiency standards. That move was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lauren-urbanek/doe-proposal-sets-hurdles-efficiency-standards" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">criticized by environmental groups</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nafem.org/resources/nafem-submits-doe-process-rule-comments/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">drew support</a>&nbsp;from appliance and lightbulb manufacturers and other affected trade groups.</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">i dub thee Spats Syndrome</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/26/1845331/-Trump-to-roll-back-Obama-era-lightbulb-standards-will-pollute-more-and-cost-consumers-12-billion">https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/26/1845331/-Trump-to-roll-back-Obama-era-lightbulb-standards-will-pollute-more-and-cost-consumers-12-billion</a></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; letter-spacing: 0.125px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">When President Barack Obama took office he announced that, instead of re-inventing the wheel, he would continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://aceee.org/press/2009/06/president-obama-announces-new-light-bulb-standards" target="
blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">improve upon the national minimum energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs</a>&nbsp;that began under President George W. Bush. The plan is to move away from the over century old technology of incandescent light bulbs into more energy efficient, safer, and cheaper technologies available to us now. Throughout the Obama presidency,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/great-energy-challenge/2013/u-s-phase-out-of-incandescent-light-bulbs-continues-in-2014-with-40-60-watt-varieties/" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">new light bulbs were added to the list of bulbs needing higher efficiency standards</a>. Obama’s legacy on this has been pretty successful as more and more Americans have moved&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/energysavingsforecast14-summ.pdf" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">towards LED technology&nbsp;</a>(<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">light-emitting diode)&nbsp;</span>for their lighting needs. Seems too good to be true?&nbsp;</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Trump administration’s Department of Energy&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/withdrawal-of-gsl-definition-nopr.pdf" target="blank" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">announced</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;that they plan on rolling back some of the bulbs Obama placed regulations on towards the end of his term. Under Obama,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">vibration service lamps, r</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">ough service lamps, 3-</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">way incandescent lamps, shatter</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">-resistant&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box;">incandescent, and higher lumen (2,601-</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">3,300 lm) incandescent lamps, would need to reach higher efficiency standard starting Jan. 1, 2020. </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The NRDC says that the bulbs in question work in over 2.7 billion sockets. The potential costs to consumers in leaving the highly inefficient technology unregulated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/noah-horowitz/annual-cost-light-bulb-standards-rollback-12-billion" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">will be&nbsp;up to $12 billion over the next five years.</a></span></span></font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; letter-spacing: 0.125px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Of course, using more energy because of inefficient&nbsp;incandescent&nbsp;and halogen technology is exactly the kind of thing that drives the fossil fuel industry. Critics explain that the more energy needed for light, the more pollution pumped into our atmosphere. But the reality is that LED lighting, which uses 90 percent of its energy to create light (versus&nbsp;incandescent&nbsp;which spends most of its energy creating heat), is the future. It’s a future that even a dummy like George W. Bush knew whether he wanted to admit it or not.</font></span></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A big part of Obama’s legacy in this department has to do with promoting regulations that allowed new companies promoting cleaner and more efficient light technology a chance to grow into the marketplace. In that he was very successful.&nbsp;The switch over from incandescent to alternative forms has begun to speed up over the past few years as LED technology</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, found more popularity with consumers because of evolving&nbsp;light quality and cost-savings</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">.&nbsp;LED lights can last up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/492/phase-out-incandescent-light-bulbs/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">12 times longer and save people four times as much on energy costs when compared to their&nbsp;incandescent&nbsp;counterparts</a>. Even more importantly for consumers and the earth is that LED’s individual price points have been dropping consistently over the past couple of years and can now come close to matching&nbsp;</span></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">incandescent light bulb costs.</span></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ref regs</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/withdrawal-of-gsl-definition-nopr.pdf">https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/withdrawal-of-gsl-definition-nopr.pdf</a></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">... FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Celia Sher, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C., 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 287-6122. Email:

celia.sher@hq.doe.gov.</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...With the removal of the Appropriations Rider in the Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2017, DOE is no longer restricted from undertaking analysis and decision making required by

the first question presented by Congress, i.e., whether to amend energy conservation standards

for general service lamps, including GSILs. Thus, on August 15, 2017, DOE published a notice

of data availability and request for information (NODA) seeking data for GSILs and other

incandescent lamps. 82 FR 38613. The purpose of this NODA was to assist DOE in making a

decision on the first question posed to DOE by Congress; i.e., a determination regarding whether

standards for GSILs should be amended. Comments submitted in response to the NODA also

led DOE to re-consider the decisions it had already made with respect to the second question

presented to DOE; i.e., whether the exemptions for certain incandescent lamps should be

maintained or discontinued. As a result of the comments received in response to the NODA,

DOE re-assessed the legal interpretations underlying certain decisions made in the January 2017</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The anti-backsliding provision at 42 U.S.C. 6295(o) precludes DOE from amending an

existing energy conservation standard to permit greater energy use or a lesser amount of energy

efficiency. This proposed rule cannot possibly constitute the amendment of an existing energy

conservation standard to permit greater energy use or a lesser amount of energy efficiency, given

that: (1) the proposal is considering withdrawing two final rules that DOE stated explicitly were

not energy conservation standards; (2) DOE was previously prohibited by the Appropriations

Rider from making a determination regarding the need for amending standards applicable to

GSILs; and (3) DOE never finalized its March 2016 proposed rule concerning establishing

energy conservation standards for GSLs.

Moreover, DOE has not yet made a final determination on whether standards applicable

to GSILs should be amended, and, therefore, no backstop energy conservation standard has yet

been imposed.4</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">...</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">dan'l r simmons&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">https://www.alternet.org/2019/02/the-republicans-dumbest-idea-yet/</font></font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It’s one thing to oppose the grandiose “Green New Deal” as gratuitously imprecise or for its full-throated attack on all-things-ozone and carbon release in our global community.</font></font></p><div class="p1_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It feels like something totally other to oppose narrow regulations that could advance the campaign to swap out incandescent light bulbs for light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, a small, practical step that, multiplied into the millions, would passively remove a healthy chunk of energy-eating pollution over time.</font></font></p><div class="p2_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="teadsNative" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Actually, I was surprised to see a recent editorial about all this in The Washington Post,&nbsp;&nbsp;which argued that “Of all the counterproductive policy campaigns conservatives have waged in recent years,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-many-trumps-does-it-take-to-not-change-a-lightbulb/2019/02/11/f2c02942-2b20-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html?utm_term=.8fcc65c2ba5e" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-many-trumps-does-it-take-to-not-change-a-lightbulb/2019/02/11/f2c02942-2b20-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html?utm_term%3D.8fcc65c2ba5e&source=gmail&ust=1550925996432000&usg=AFQjCNENsN2Yf_MEleR1Z-rRAyhfjjbfOg" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">among the most irrational has been their war on the federal government’s efforts to update the light bulb</a>.”</font></font></p><div class="p3_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Lots of politicians and critics across the board have attacked the Green New Deal proposed last week by freshman Democrats Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Such rivals as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saw overstepping in the name of climate change, a blown campaign rollout to even explain all of its aspirational aspects, and, more generally, a need to slap down an unruly first-year Democratic Socialist. McConnell scornfully said he would call for an immediate vote on the resolution even before details could be discussed, just to have it swept away.</font></font></p><div class="p4_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><blockquote style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 10px 20px 10px 24px; position: relative; line-height: 1.7; overflow: hidden; background: rgb(245, 245, 245); border: none !important;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.7;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="">I understand a president so disdainful of the whole idea of climate change, but what baffles me is why he wants to make things worse.</font></font></p><div class="p5_14" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></blockquote><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">So, I understand that our politicians want practical over primacy—unless you are discussing border security—and I even understand, sort of, a president who is just so disdainful of the whole idea of climate change as to not discuss what to do about it. But what baffles me is why there would be support to make things worse.</font></font></p><div class="p6_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>It’s why I find Trump’s support for re-opening coal mines a bit nutty as policy when there is no real marketplace for coal, and the proven resulting pollution obviously makes what is already bad much worse.</b></font></font></p><div class="p7_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>As the Post editorial argued, “Swapping out all the old incandescent bulbs across the country would save an astonishing amount of energy, which would translate into big savings for consumers and less pollution over time. But Republicans stymied the Obama administration’s efforts to pursue this policy, which has no downside, and the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/withdrawal-of-gsl-definition-nopr.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/02/f59/withdrawal-of-gsl-definition-nopr.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1550925996432000&usg=AFQjCNEDHIgcQl9_ZorsoM-I0dACZ3Rl5Q" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">is now using</a>&nbsp;its power over federal efficiency standards to extend the rollback.”</b></font></font></p><div class="p8_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It was in 2007 that Congress mandated a shift toward the LED light bulb. As manufacturers invested in manufacturing lights that use these updated technologies, the prices dropped, the bulbs improved and consumers saw lower energy bills for doing very little.</font></font></p><div class="p9_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><b style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">By 2020, all bulbs were supposed to be LEDs, </b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">including bulbs for candelabras, recessed lighting, heavy-duty applications and others also be subject added in the latter days of the Obama era. The Trump administration moved last week to eliminate those addition, despite the fact that the 2020 standards would have saved consumers billions of dollars per year and 140 billion kilowatt-hours in energy waste—the equivalent to the output of 45 coal-fired power plants—in 2025,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://appliance-standards.org/sites/default/files/light_bulb_brief_2.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://appliance-standards.org/sites/default/files/light_bulb_brief_2.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1550925996432000&usg=AFQjCNFEl-cJ-VltTTC4_gIv9YjN7U_fbQ" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">according</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;to the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, which advocates stiffer efficiency programs. Exempting candelabra and other lights from the 2020 standard could cut roughly in half the number of bulbs that would be required to use better technology,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://ees.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/lbnl-1007090-rev2.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ees.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/lbnl-1007090-rev2.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1550925996432000&usg=AFQjCNEUTHSGnmeof6R2dusPIr15pBsOiA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">research</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">&nbsp;from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggest</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">s. The Appliance Standards Awareness Project&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-move-to-weaken-light-bulb-efficiency-standards-could-cost-consumers-12/547869/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-move-to-weaken-light-bulb-efficiency-standards-could-cost-consumers-12/547869/&source=gmail&ust=1550925996432000&usg=AFQjCNGoA0K6aOIBzPrP3kh1INIEJSvoIg" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; cursor: pointer;">estimates</a>&nbsp;that the Trump rollback will cost consumers an additional $12 billion per year in 2025.</span></font></font></p><div class="p10_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The editorial noted that the Trump administration has signaled that it would attempt to roll back the 2020 standards further in coming months.</font></font></p><div class="p11_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">The editorial concluded, “There is no excuse for unnecessary energy waste and every reason for the federal government to coordinate a move toward better bulbs. The Trump administration should halt its know-nothing rollback.”</font></font></p><div class="p12_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In my environmental balance, we should be seeking out painless, passive ways to make things a bit better. As I am reminded about eating towards better health, we need not go on starvation diets, we just need to pay better attention to everyday habits.</font></font></p><div class="p13_14" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.8; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The habit in this administration seems to be doing the opposite.</font></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></font></p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">

</font><h6 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; border: 0px; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('43734700','');" style="text-decoration: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1px; border: 0px; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">Rep. Barton pushes a psycho vote on light bulbs</font></a></font></h6>

<p class="date" style="margin: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; display: block; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Updated 8:12 p.m. PT, Tues., July 12, 2011</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a class="icoVid" title="Click to view video: " rep="Rep" barton="Barton" pushes="pushes" a="a" psycho="psycho" vote="vote" on="on" light="light" bulbs="bulbs" href="javascript:vPlayer('43734700','');" style="text-decoration: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px 14px; border: 0px; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; font-weight: bold; background-image: url(" http="http" assets2c.msnbc.msn.com="assets2c.msnbc.msn.com" rendering="rendering" img="img" story-chrome.gif="story-chrome.gif" background-attachment="background-attachment" scroll="scroll" background-color="background-color" transparent="transparent" position="position" static="static" display="display" inline-block="inline-block" line-height="line-height" px="px" background-position="background-position" background-repeat="background-repeat" no-repeat="no-repeat">&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; Psychotalk: Texas Rep. Joe Barton's bill to repeal light bulb efficiency standards fails. But not before Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Fox's Steve Doocy fail at math while lobbying against energy-efficient bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">==</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div class="title">

<h1 class="title"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Omnibus spending deal blocks funding for light bulb efficiency standards</font></h1>

</div>

<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="author"> By Andrew Restuccia </span>- <span class="date"> 12/15/11 10:15 PM ET</span></font></div>

<div class="txt" id="el-article-div">

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Omnibus spending legislation <a mce_href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/199845-shutdown-averted-as-congress-reaches-spending-deal" href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/199845-shutdown-averted-as-congress-reaches-spending-deal"><b>greenlighted by House and Senate negotiators</b></a> Thursday night blocks Energy Department light bulb efficiency standards that have come under fire from conservatives in recent months.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The legislation, which would avert a government shutdown, prevents funding from being used for the implementation of certain Energy Department light bulb standards. The standards would begin phasing in next year.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The provision was included in <a mce_href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199593-spending-bill-cuts-epa-funding-but-most-riders-left-out" href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199593-spending-bill-cuts-epa-funding-but-most-riders-left-out"><b>a version of the spending legislation unveiled by House Republicans</b></a> early Thursday without the backing of Senate Democrats.&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Jennifer Hing, a House Appropriations Committee spokeswoman, said the language remains in the final version of the bill.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">“There is no change in this language from the version that was posted last night,” she said in an email.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senate Democrats said earlier this week that the GOP-backed language blocking funding for the light bulb standards was one of a handful of <a mce_href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199023-senate-dems-gop-lightbulb-rider-one-issue-standing-in-way-of-omnibus-deal" href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199023-senate-dems-gop-lightbulb-rider-one-issue-standing-in-way-of-omnibus-deal"><b>obstacles to reaching a deal</b></a>. But the final spending agreement includes the language, in a symbolic win for Republicans.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">House Republicans have sought for months to repeal provisions in a 2007 energy law that require traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more efficient starting in 2012.&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Republicans in Congress, <a mce_href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/167169-bachmann-blasts-light-bulb-efficiency-law" href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/167169-bachmann-blasts-light-bulb-efficiency-law"><b>including GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann</b></a>, have blasted the standards, casting them as an egregious example of federal overreach</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"President Bachmann will allow you to buy any light bulb you want,” Bachmann said this summer.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Republicans often describe the standards as a “light bulb ban,” arguing that the rules would greatly restrict consumer choice by pushing out traditional incandescent bulbs in favor of more expensive, but more efficient, LED (light emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Environmental and energy-efficiency groups note that the standards do not ban incandescent bulbs, but instead require them to be more efficient. While more efficient light bulbs are often more expensive at the point of sale, experts say they save consumers money on their electricity bills over the long term.</font></p>

</div>

<p><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199851-spending-deal-blocks-light-bulb-efficiency-standards?page=2#comments"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199851-spending-deal-blocks-light-bulb-efficiency-standards?page=2#comments</font></a>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">comment post:</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;<span class="comment-body">The dirty secrets the Ocommiecrats don't tell you is besides the high price of the CFL Lamp $8-10 each vs .50 cents for the standard bulb the CFL contains mercury a cancer causing agent which has beeen banned from American products in the past However I guess the fact that the CFL's are imported from O's overseas pals and the standard lamp was made in the USA.The new rule has caused several plants in the US to be shut down.What stupid people in this administration.</span></font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">------</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">disinfo:</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">media matters</font></p>

<hr />

<h1><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Conservative Media Misled Light Bulb Consumers At Least 40 Times In 7 Months</font></h1>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">July 18, 2011 10:32 am ET</font></p>

<div class="post-summary-newformat">

<p class="post-summary-intro-newformat"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In at least 40 instances since the beginning of 2011, conservative media outlets wrongly told consumers that the light bulb efficiency standards scheduled to take effect in 2012 will require them to use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).</font></p>

</div>

<div class="post-full">

<h2><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Industry Denounces Inaccurate Media Coverage</font></h2>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Electrical Manufactures Association: "Misinformation Has Been Promoted By A Number Of Media Outlets." &nbsp;</strong>In a May 25 article, the <em>New York Times </em>quoted a spokesman for the <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nema.org%2Fabout%2Fmembers%2F%23G">National Electric Manufacturers Association</a>, which represents lighting manufacturers including Philips, GE and Oshram Sylvania:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Joseph Higbee, a spokesman for the electrical manufacturers association, offered his take on the situation: "Unfortunately people do not yet understand this lighting transition, and mistakenly think they won't be able to buy incandescent light bulbs. This misinformation has been promoted by a number of media outlets. Incandescent light bulbs are not being banned, and the new federal energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs do not mandate the use of CFLs. My hope is that the media can help the American people understand the <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.nytimes.com%2Ftop%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fenergy-environment%2Fefficient-lighting%2Findex.html%3Finline%3Dnyt-classifier" title="More articles about efficient lighting.">energy-efficient lighting</a> options available, as opposed to furthering misconceptions." [<em>New York Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Fgarden%2Ffearing-the-phase-out-of-incandescent-bulbs.html%3Fpagewanted%3D2%26_r%3D1%26adxnnl%3D1%26adxnnlx%3D1310648508-qxOryjsHDwUnx9Dlt9hRRg">5/25/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<h2><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Efficiency Standards <em>Do Not</em> Require The Use Of CFLs</font></h2>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Standards Require Light Bulbs To Use Less Energy.&nbsp; </strong>The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 stipulates that starting in January 2012, light bulbs as bright as traditional 100-Watt incandescents, which waste the vast majority of the energy they use as heat, will be required to use no more than 72-Watts. Standards for bulbs as bright as the&nbsp;traditional 60-Watt incandescent, which is <a href="http://mediamatters.org/print/research/Efficiency%20Standards%20Are%20Not%20New,%20Have%20Been%20Created%20By%20Last%20Three%20Republican%20Presidents">reportedly</a> the most commonly used bulb, don't take effect until 2014.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;[Lowe's, accessed <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwebapps.easy2.com%2Fcm%2Fflash_ext%2Flowe_index.asp%3Fpage_id%3D36143492%3Dlowe%26cm_cr%3DLight%2BBulbs--Web%2BActivity--Light%2BBulbs%2BTH%2B4.25.11%2BActivity--SC_Light%2BBulbs_TopHero_Area--144119_1_light_bulb_guide_mspot">7/14/11</a>]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Manufacturers Developed Advanced Incandescent Bulbs That Meet The New Standards.</strong> As Politifact noted, halogen incandescent bulbs meet the efficiency requirements, although they do not save nearly as much energy as CFLs and LEDs:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It's true that the current versions of incandescent light bulbs will be phased out of existence. Compact fluorescent and LED bulbs offer more efficient alternatives, but if incandescent light is your thing, the major light bulb makers have you covered. They have developed and shipped halogen incandescent bulbs that meet the new efficiency standards, so there is no basis in fact to claim they have been banned in favor of fluorescent bulbs. [Politifact.com, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politifact.com%2Ftruth-o-meter%2Fstatements%2F2011%2Fmay%2F20%2Fameripac%2Fconservative-pac-claims-democrats-banned-incandesc%2F">5/20/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Several Brands Of Advanced Incandescent Bulbs Are Already Available For Purchase. </strong>In addition to the wide variety of CFL products available, the following halogen incandescent options can serve as replacements for the traditional 100-Watt incandescent bulb. (Prices as of July 18, 2011):</font></p>

<ul>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Bulbrite 72-Watt Halogen Bulb - </strong>$1.60 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPack-72-Watt-Bulbrite-115070%2Fdp%2FB003VGW57Q%2Fref%3Dsr_1_4%3Fs%3Dhi%26ie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1310738546%26sr%3D1-4">Amazon.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Sylvania 72-Watt Halogen Super Saver - </strong>$1.75 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd_302673-3-16020_4294801203_4294937087%3FproductId%3D3369750%26Ns%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%257C0%257C%257Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%257C1%26pl%3D1%26currentURL%3D%25252Fpl_Halogen%25252BLight%25252BBulbs_4294801203_4294937087%25253FNs%25253Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%257C0%257C%257Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%257C1%26facetInfo%3D">Lowes.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>GE 72-Watt Halogen Bulb</strong> - $2.50 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acehardware.com%2Fproduct%2Findex.jsp%3FproductId%3D10833232">AceHardware.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Philips 72-Watt EcoVantage - </strong>$2.80 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulbs.com%2FeSpec.aspx%3FID%3D18365%26Ref%3DLight%2BBulbs%2C%2BBallasts%2C%2BFixtures%2Band%2BMore%26RefId%3D0">Bulbs.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Philips 70-Watt Halogená Energy Saver </strong>- $4.50 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homedepot.com%2Fbuy%2Flighting-fans%2Flight-bulbs%2Fphilips%2F70-watt-t60-white-halogena-energy-saver-light-bulb-dimmable-2pack-39385.html">HomeDepot.com</a> (longer life)</font></li>

</ul>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>NY Times</em>: "The Incandescent Bulb Is Turning Into A Case Study Of The Way Government Mandates Can Spur Innovation." </strong>From a July 2009 <em>New York Times </em>article:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">When Congress passed a new energy law two years ago, obituaries were written for the incandescent light bulb. The law set tough efficiency standards, due to take effect in 2012, that no traditional incandescent bulb on the market could meet, and a century-old technology that helped create the modern world seemed to be doomed.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But as it turns out, the obituaries were premature.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Researchers across the country have been racing to breathe new life into<a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.nytimes.com%2Ftop%2Freference%2Ftimestopics%2Fpeople%2Fe%2Fthomas_a_edison%2Findex.html%3Finline%3Dnyt-per"> Thomas Edison</a>'s light bulb, a pursuit that accelerated with the new legislation. Amid that footrace, one company is already marketing limited quantities of incandescent bulbs that meet the 2012 standard, and researchers are promising a wave of innovative products in the next few years.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Indeed, the incandescent bulb is turning into a case study of the way government mandates can spur innovation.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"There's a massive misperception that incandescents are going away quickly," said Chris Calwell, a researcher with Ecos Consulting who studies the bulb market. "There have been more incandescent innovations in the last three years than in the last two decades<em> ."</em></font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The first bulbs to emerge from this push, Philips Lighting's Halogena Energy Savers, are expensive compared with older incandescents. They sell for $5 apiece and more, compared with as little as 25 cents for standard bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But they are also 30 percent more efficient than older bulbs. Philips says that a 70-watt Halogena Energy Saver gives off the same amount of light as a traditional 100-watt bulb and lasts about three times as long, eventually paying for itself. [<em>New York Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F07%2F06%2Fbusiness%2Fenergy-environment%2F06bulbs.html">7/5/09</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Philips Executive: "Everyone In The Industry Knew ... We Could Still Make Incandescent Light Bulbs" Under The New Standards. </strong>In an interview with Climate Progress, Randall Moorhead, vice president of government affairs at Philips, said:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The 2007 law set minimum efficiency level. That's it. Everyone in the industry knew that it was set at a point that we could still make incandescent light bulbs. The industry never would have supported a law that would have banned a technology or prevented us from making a light with a certain kind of ambiance<strong>.</strong></font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The reality is, the new incandescent lights were not being made because there was not an economic incentive to make them. And now Philips [and other manufacturers] makes two types that were not made before EISA. Today, under the efficiency standard, consumers have more choices, not less. They still can choose from more types of incandescent light bulbs that will be more efficient. [Climate Progress, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Fromm%2F2011%2F07%2F08%2F263535%2Flight-bulb-efficiency-standard-will-lower-energy-bills%25E2%2580%259D%2F">7/8/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Energy Information Administration Projections Show Future For Advanced Incandescent Bulbs. </strong>Accounting for the light bulb efficiency standards passed in 2007, EIA projects that "as general service bulbs last longer, fewer new bulbs are purchased for use in households. The projected market share among bulb types also changes, with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), compact fluorescents (CFLs), and more efficient incandescent lights purchased in nearly equal amounts by 2035."</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[Energy Information Administration, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eia.gov%2Ftodayinenergy%2Fdetail.cfm%3Fid%3D630">3/21/11</a>]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Consumers Can Also Purchase LEDs. </strong>LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs cost more up front than the other options but last for decades. LEDs as bright as 60-Watt traditional incandescent are already available for purchase (prices as of July 18, 2011):</font></p>

<ul>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">EcoSmart 130Watt LED - $35 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homedepot.com%2FElectrical-Light-Bulbs-LED%2Fh_d1%2FN-5yc1vZbm79%2FR-202668646%2Fh_d2%2FProductDisplay%3FlangId%3D-1%26storeId%3D10051%26catalogId%3D10053">HomeDepot.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Philips 12-Watt AmbientLED - $40 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homedepot.com%2FElectrical-Light-Bulbs-LED%2Fh_d1%2FN-5yc1vZ1xh3Zbm79%2FR-202530170%2Fh_d2%2FProductDisplay%3FlangId%3D-1%26storeId%3D10051%26catalogId%3D10053">HomeDepot.com</a></font></li>

<li><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sylvania 12-Watt Ultra High Performance Series LED - $40 per bulb at <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd_221498-3-78792_4294801193_4294937087%3FproductId%3D3375050%26Ns%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%257C0%257C%257Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%257C1%26pl%3D1%26currentURL%3D%252Fpl_LED%252BLight%252BBulbs_4294801193_4294937087%253FNs%253Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%257C0%257C%257Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%257C1%26facetInfo%3D">Lowes.com</a></font></li>

</ul>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Oshram Sylvania and Switch Lighting have also developed LED bulbs as bright as <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.cnet.com%2F8301-11128_3-20063623-54.html">100-Watt</a> traditional incandescents, which will be available for purchase in the near future.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>LEDs Have Lowest Yearly Operating Cost. </strong>From EnergySavers.gov:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Average consumers will spend about $4.80 to operate a traditional incandescent bulb for a year (electricity cost). By comparison, average consumers will spend about $1.00 to operate an ENERGY STAR LED bulb, about $3.50 on a halogen incandescent bulb, and about $1.20 on an ENERGY STAR CFL bulb -- each that produces about the same amount of light.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Also, an ENERGY STAR CFL bulb will typically last up to 10 times longer and an ENERGY STAR qualified LED bulb will last as much as 25 times longer than an incandescent bulb with the same light output (or lumens). Since the newer bulbs typically last longer, you have to replace them less frequently. Even with higher upfront purchase price added in, energy saving halogen incandescents, LEDs, and CFLs remain less expensive to consumers over the life of the individual bulb. [EnergySavers.gov, accessed <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.energysavers.gov%2Fyour_home%2Flighting_daylighting%2Findex.cfm%2Fmytopic%3D11978%23q10">7/15/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>AP: "LED Prices Are Coming Down Quickly."</strong> From a May 16 AP article:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">To stimulate LED development, the federal government has instituted a $10 million "L Prize" for an energy-efficient replacement for the 60-watt bulb. Philips is so far the only entrant in testing, and Eftekhar expects the company to win it soon. But Lighting Sciences Group plans its own entry, which it will demonstrate at the trade show.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Philips has been selling a 60-watt-equivalent bulb at Home Depot since December that's quite similar to the one submitted to the contest. But it's slightly dimmer, consumes 2 watts too much power and costs $40, whereas the L Prize target is $22. Sylvania sells a similar LED bulb at Lowe's, also for $40.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">However, LED prices are coming down quickly. The DoE expects a 60-watt equivalent LED bulb to cost $10 by 2015, putting them within striking range of the price of a compact fluorescent bulb.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Bob Karlicek, the director of the Smart Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., thinks that price is achievable. [AP, 5/16/11, via Nexis]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<h2><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Conservative Media Misinformed Consumers At Least 40 Times In 7 Months</font></h2>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>WSJ</em>: "We Will All Be Required To Buy Compact Fluorescent Lights." </strong>From a June 7 <em>Wall Street Journal</em> editorial:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">On January 1, 2012, seven months from this week, Washington will effectively ban the sale of conventional 100 watt incandescent light bulbs that Americans have used nearly since the days of Thomas Edison. Instead we will all be required to buy compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs. We'd like to believe that when the government decrees what kind of light bulbs you can screw into the lamp in your own bedroom, even liberals would be nervous about the nanny state.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The question an (allegedly) free society should ask is if CFL bulbs are so clearly superior, why does the government have to force people to buy them? [<em>Wall Street Journal</em>,<a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704662604576202770757822548.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj"> 6/7/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Wash. Times </em>Claims Consumers "Will Be Forced To Buy" "Mercury-Filled Curlicue Light Bulbs." </strong>From a July 11 <em>Washington Times </em>editorial:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday finalized "cross-state air pollution" regulations designed to drive coal-plant operators out of business. This noxious rule will choke job creation and ensure that consumers are stricken with higher utility bills every time they switch on the mercury-filled curlicue light bulbs they also will be forced to buy. [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fjul%2F11%2Fobamas-coal-tax%2F">7/11/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox's Varney: "The Government Is ... Sticking A Mercury Light Bulb Down My Throat." </strong>From the July 11 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Varney & Company</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">VARNEY: These new lights contain mercury, OK, you can't dispose of them very easily. &nbsp;Is that factored into this equation? So the government is forcing me, taking my right to choose away from me, sticking a mercury light bulb down my throat and saying it's good for you. [Fox Business Network, <em>Varney & Company</em>, 7/11/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Varney also aired the following graphic:</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong>Fox News:&nbsp;2007 Law Said We "Got To Use Those Pigtail Things That Are Made In China That Have Mercury In Them." </strong>From the July 11 edition of Fox News' <em>Fox & Friends</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Let's talk a little bit about something known as the Better Use Of Light Bulbs Act, B-U-L-B Act, later on today in the House of Representatives they're going to bring this up. And what it is, is it's -- they're going to try to repeal -- you know, Congress passed that kooky law that said incandescent bulbs, like this, got to go away; got to use those pigtail things that are made in China that have mercury in them, instead of the bulbs made by American workers.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BRIAN KILMEADE (co-host): And by the way, those bulbs should come with laser surgery coupons because you go blind eventually because they're so dim and they weigh a thousand pounds. [Fox News, <em>Fox & Friends</em>,<a href="http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/503109"> 7/11/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p class="loose"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">During the segment, Fox also aired the following graphic:</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><img src="/8deda3ec-7d56-54fe-a224-c669e0e3ddb8.jpg"/>

<strong><em>NY Post</em>: "The Government Is Ordering You To Buy" CFLs.</strong> From a July 11 <em>New York Post</em> editorial:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p class="loose"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Republicans are planning to force a vote on the House floor as soon as today to repeal the rapidly approaching ban on incandescent light bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I will join my colleagues to vote yes on a bill to protect consumer choice and guard against federal overreach," House Energy Chairman Fred Upton &nbsp;(R-Mich.) said last week.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">His support is a key development. Thanks to a 2007 energy bill Upton helped write, federal law requires the foolish phase-in of Compact Fluorescent Lamps on New Year's Day. The 100-watt incandescents that light up the US will become close to contraband.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But a CFL is a pale excuse for a bulb - while it's energy efficient, it produces weaker, colder light.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">What's more, CFLs are relatively expensive, as noted by the main sponsor of the repeal bill, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas). "I bought a 60-watt CFL bulb last night at Giant for $6, and I bought four 60-watt incandescents for 37.5 cents a piece - four for a buck and a half," he said.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">That is, the bulbs the government is ordering you to buy cost 16 times more than what you've got right now. [<em>New York Post</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nypost.com%2Fp%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2Fshine_on_JEA2fPu2mI04x9PpM5FmuL">7/11/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>National Review</em> Claims People Will "Have To Buy CFLs" If The Efficiency Standards Are Not Repealed. &nbsp;</strong>From a March 7 <em>National Review</em> column written by James Lileks:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Buried in the mound of laws you'll find something minor that symbolizes exactly what we're up against. In January, H.R. 91 was introduced: the Better Use of Light Bulbs Act. Yes: the BULB Act. What a coincidence! This bill would repeal the imminent ban on incandescent, or "good," light bulbs, so you wouldn't have to buy CFLs, which are loaded with so many nasty substances that al-Qaeda could shut down an entire small town just by sending someone to Home Depot to take a baseball bat to the CFL racks. Everyone's read the warnings: If you break a bulb, open up all the windows, go outside, pound a FOR SALE sign in your yard, live in a tent in the park, and mail the bulb shards to NASA for eventual dispersal in the sun's corona. The laws covering the disposal of a lawfully eliminated fetus are probably less stringent than the laws about getting rid of a CFL. Most people will just throw them away, adding tons of toxins to the waste stream. Domestic garbage: now enriched with mercury, for extra goodness! Anti-bulb-choice advocates say that won't happen because it's not supposed to happen. Why, it's against the law. Yes indeed. And no one drove 56 mph in the Carter years. [N<em>ational Review</em>, 3/7/11, via Nexis]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Detroit News</em>: "We'll All Be Forced To Use" "Twisty Bulbs." </strong>From a February 16 <em>Detroit News </em>commentary by Manny Lopez:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">While standing in line at Costco recently, a couple in front of me were blustering on about how they were practically being given the stack of fluorescent bulbs piled in their cart.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"Can you believe this, 99 cents," the woman said to her husband.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"I know, maybe we should get more," he said.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">At this, I couldn't resist.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">I had also - albeit reluctantly - grabbed a box of twisty bulbs to give them a shot since we'll all be forced to use them, thanks to our nanny government outlawing incandescent. But understanding a bit of economics, I wasn't as giddy about the dollar deal.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">"It's costing you more than a buck," I told them when they turned and noticed I had a box, too. "The bulbs are subsidized, but you'll pay for them in higher energy costs and elsewhere." [<em>Detroit News, </em>2/16/11, accessed via Nexis]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Sun-Times </em>Op-Ed Claims Government Is "Forcing Us To Use Fluorescent Bulbs." </strong>The <em>Chicago Sun-Times </em>published a February 12 commentary by Jacob Sullum titled "Forcing us to use fluorescent bulbs is not a bright idea." In the op-ed, Sullum writes: "What I want is lighting, and the new bulbs are not very good at providing it. Unlike incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps do not go on when you flip a switch; they think about going on and then, after mulling the idea for a few minutes, achieve their maximum brightness when you are done with whatever you were planning to do -- which is especially annoying in the bathroom." [<em>Chicago Sun-Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.suntimes.com%2Fnews%2Fotherviews%2F4331671-417%2Fforcing-us-to-use-fluorescent-bulbs-is-not-a-bright-idea.html%3Fprint%3Dtrue">2/12/11</a>]

<strong>Big Government: New Standards "Force Americans To Buy Toxic Light Bulbs From The Chinese." </strong>From a Big Government post by Adam Sparks titled, "Who Shut Off the Lights? Bring Back the Incandescent Lightbulb":</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The liberals, who always cry for "choice", don't want to give the American consumer choice in choosing light bulbs. They're apparently only pro-choice with baby killing. Otherwise, they will tell you just how to live your life, thank you. The banning of the incandescent light bulb meant that General Electric, the largest maker of light bulbs, had to close all their plants in the US. The last<a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-dyn%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F2010%2F09%2F07%2FAR2010090706933.html"> factory closed in Winchester, VA. in September</a> of last year. &nbsp;The jobs are now all in China. They're the largest makers of the compact fluorescent bulbs, CFLs. &nbsp;They're not made here, in part, because they're too hazardous.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ironically, the CFL's contain mercury, a highly toxic substance. A broken bulb can create an environmental nightmare and according to<a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle.cfm%3Fid%3Dare-compact-fluorescent-lightbulbs-dangerous"> Scientific American at least one case of mercury poisoning</a> has been linked to these bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Toxic cleanup crews may be necessary to contain a broken light bulb. I guess this is what the enviros mean by creating more "green jobs". Cleaning up the mess that they've foisted on the American people through advocacy of their radical legislation. First, we ban imports of lead in Chinese toys and now this: forcing Americans to buy toxic light bulbs from the Chinese at the expenses of American jobs and consumer safety? What kind of insanity is this? [Big Government, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fbiggovernment.com%2Fasparks%2F2011%2F02%2F08%2Fwho-shut-off-the-lights-bring-back-the-incandescent-lightbulb%2F">&nbsp;2/8/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox News: "Do You Want To Be Forced To Have The Squiggly Ones?" </strong>From the July 10 edition of Fox News' <em>Fox & Friends Sunday</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MIKE JERRICK (co-host): Should the government tell you which kind of bulbs that you can put in your lamps at home? Do you want the squiggly ones? Do you want to be forced to have the squiggly ones?</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">AINSLEY EARHARDT (co-host): An incandescent bulb is going to cost you 60 cents and these little squiggly ones, the fluorescent ones are $3.40. And be careful if you buy these expensive ones. I did this and put them in my light bulbs at home -- I mean my lights at home. It looked like a garage. It was so fluorescent and bright, I couldn't stand it, like hurt your eyes -- hurt my eyes. I think I bought the wrong ones, right?</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DAVE BRIGGS (co-host): You know, I don't know a whole lot about this. I know that it comes down to one thing for many Americans. Are they forced to buy a light bulb or can they choose which one they think is more energy-efficient, more affordable, and a better deal for their family. Well Joe Barton of Texas has this bill on Monday that will allow you to choose, not be forced to buy a particular light bulb. [Fox News, <em>Fox & Friends Sunday</em>, 7/10/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong>Fox's Napolitano: The Standards "Force Us Into Some Technology Which Is Actually Harmful." </strong>From the July 12 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Freedom Watch</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ANDREWE NAPOLITANO (host): This abominable law was signed by George W. Bush when Republicans had significant numbers in Congress as part of some other law intended to save energy costs. Now we're saddled with one of those ugly things in front of you [CFL] that if it breaks, everybody's afraid of what comes out of it. It doesn't give you the illumination you want, and it costs several times what the regular bulbs cost.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">NAPOLITANO: It seems to be a no-brainer perpetrated by the left, by the green folks. Some of whom have good ideas, some of whom are fanatics. George Bush bought it. The Democrats controlled the house when he signed it but some Republicans did vote for this legislation to force us into some technology which is actually harmful. [Fox Business Network, <em>Freedom Watch</em>, 7/12/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Deroy Murdock: Standards "Force Us To Buy" CFLs. </strong>Appearing on Fox Business, conservative columnist Deroy Murdock held up a CFL bulb and said that Obama "has said that if the Congress votes to give us the light bulb freedom, then he will veto it and force us to buy these things." [Fox Business Network, <em>Freedom Watch</em>, 7/12/11]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>IBD Claims Law Replaces Incandescent Light "With An Unproven Substitute -- The Compact Fluorescent Light." </strong>From a July 8 <em>Investor's Business Daily editorial</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">As the law stands, the incandescent light, the greatest invention by America's greatest inventor, Thomas Edison, will disappear at the end of this year. It is being replaced with an unproven substitute -- the compact fluorescent light, or CFL -- that is both politically foolish and bad science.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Indeed, you'd need a full page to list all the drawbacks of CFLs. They're a bad product, one foisted on Americans by a government eager to control all our lives in the name of creating a glorious green future utopia. [<em>Investor's Business Daily</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.investors.com%2FNewsAndAnalysis%2FArticle%2F577799%2F201107081902%2FLet-There-Be-Lights.htm">7/8/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong><em>Wash. Times </em>Op-Ed: "The Government Simply Removed Our Choice" Not To Buy CFLs. </strong>From a June 30 <em>Washington Times </em>op-ed by Matt Patterson:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It was hoped originally that CFLs would provide an energy-efficient alternative, but consumers avoided them in droves in favor of the old standards. So the government simply removed our choice, and ergo, our freedom. So far, Americans - whose not-very-distant kin staged a bloody rebellion over a trifling tax - have decided to roll over and take it. [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fjun%2F30%2Fviva-lailuminacion%2F">6/30/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Monica Crowley: "The New Light Bulbs That Are Mandatory" Cost "Six Dollars For Every Light Bulb." </strong>From the July 12 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>The Willis Report</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">MONICA CROWLEY, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: And you know what, the new light bulbs that are mandatory as of January 1st if they don't block this are so much more expensive than your regular incandescent light bulbs. It's six dollars for every light bulb. Now you can get a pick of three for about two bucks. [Fox Business Network, <em>The Willis Report</em>, 712/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Tim Carney: New Standards "Force People To Buy ... Those Little Curly-Cue CFLs." </strong>From the February 8 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Follow the Money</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">TIM CARNEY, WASHINGTON EXAMINER: What you have is that in 2012 is when they will no longer be able to manufacture them for sale. So, the, I think that's the 60 watt bulbs, and then by 2014 all of the incandescent bulbs will basically be illegal, because of these efficiency rules. And of course, GE lobbied for these efficiency regulations because it forces people to buy, at least today, those little curly-cue CFLs, which they make in China, which has fewer environmental regulations, lower labor costs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ERIC BOLLING: Bring it out to the panel, real quick, Joey, guess what happens to those CFL? As Tim points out, they're produced in China, almost primarily because they have mercury in them, for whatever reason, but GE used to manufacture those regular incandescent light bulbs in Cleveland. Those jobs are being shipped overseas. [Fox Business Network, <em>Follow The Money</em>, 2/8/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox News: Government Decided "We're Going To Get Rid Of Those Incandescent Light Bulbs ... And Instead Use Those Pigtails Made In China." </strong>From the June 29 edition of Fox News' <em>Fox & Friends</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STEVE DOOCY (host): All right, so a couple of years ago the federal government decided that we're going to get rid of those incandescent light bulbs which we have used for decades and instead use those pigtails made in China.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BLACKBURN: That's exactly right and what they were doing is filling those bulbs -- they're called CFLs, compact fluorescent light bulbs -- filling them with mercury, putting them on the market, and guess what? They're too expensive to afford, just like this administration. The American people don't like them. They see it as a metaphor for everything that is wrong with the overreach of government, the overreach of EPA.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: Right.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BLACKBURN: We're bringing our bill to the floor in July. Chairman Fred Upton is clearing the way. The House leadership is clearing the way. We're going to pass it with bipartisan support and send it to the Senate.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DOOCY: Jehmu, I don't know about you, but I hate those light bulbs. I've been using them for a couple of years now. You know when I put them into my house, it looks like it's an operating room. It's real bright blue light. And how many American jobs have been lost as we ship these off to have them made in China? [Fox News, <em>Fox & Friends, </em>6/29/11, via Nexis]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Wash. Times</em>' James Robbins: "The Purpose Of The Law Is To Promote" CFLs "By Removing The Competition." </strong>From a June 24 <em>Washington Times </em>post by James Robbins:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The purpose of the law is to promote more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs by removing the competition. In the past Congress has banned products using public health, safety or welfare rationales, but the incandescent bulb is a proven, safe technology, more so than the bulbs that will replace it. [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fblog%2Frobbins-report%2F2011%2Fjun%2F24%2Fbattle-bulb%2F">6/24/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Varney: "I Don't Want The Government Forcing Me To Buy Those Squiggly Nasty Mercury-Filled Things." </strong>From the June 22 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Varney & Company</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">VARNEY: You know I've got a bee in my bonnet about light bulbs. You know that. I don't want the government to be forcing me to buy those squiggly nasty mercury-filled things. Well, the state of Texas is coming to the rescue. [Fox Business Network, <em>Varney & Company</em>, 6/22/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong>IBD Editorial Refers to CFLs As "The Substitute Bulb." </strong>From a June 21 <em>Investor's Business Daily </em>article:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The incandescent bulb lit up America and came to symbolize a great idea. Now on the cusp of a federal ban, Thomas Edison's invention has become a symbol for personal liberty.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Perhaps no issue better illuminates the transformation of the right from Big Government conservatism to Tea Party activism.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">With many consumers griping about the cost and type of light of the substitute bulb, populists have won the ear of some once-staunch ban supporters.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Compact fluorescent lamp bulbs are more expensive than traditional bulbs, but use less energy and are supposed to last longer. Users should save money in the long term, supporters say.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">But many Americans complain that the light from CFLs lacks the yellow warmth of incandescents and natural light. CFLs can take a long time to warm up as well.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Tests have shown that on-off use can reduce CFLs' life span significantly, sometimes even below that of an incandescent. CFLs also contain toxic mercury. [<em>Investor's Business Daily, </em><a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.investors.com%2FNewsAndAnalysis%2FArticle.aspx%3Fid%3D576009">6/21/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Bo Dietl: Obama Is Making Us "Use Those Toxic Waste Light Bulbs Now." </strong>From the June 13 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Follow the Money</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BO DIETL: Joey, your president is making me get rid of my incandescent light bulbs. I got to use those toxic waste light bulbs now. If they fall you need a freaking hazmat to get out of here. [Fox Business Network, <em>Follow the Money, </em>6/13/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox's Asman: "In Just Seven Months From Now, We Won't Be Able To Buy An Incandescent Bulb." </strong>From the June 11 edition of Fox News' <em>Forbes on Fox</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DAVID ASMAN (host): I hate fluorescent bulbs. They make me feel sick. They give me a headache. And when they break, they create all kinds of stuff -- starting in just seven months from now, we won't be able to buy an incandescent bulb.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">VICTORIA BARRET, FORBES: I know. I'm actually hoarding the old-fashioned bulbs.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">ASMAN: Me too.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BARRET: I went on Amazon.com and I bought, I'm not kidding, 80 of them, 80. It's crazy, but I can't stand the fluorescent stuff because it takes two minutes to warm up and by the time tow minutes have past, I'm out of my hallway. [Fox News, <em>Forbes on Fox, </em><a href="http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201106110005">6/11/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>NY Post</em>: "The Feds Demand That They Be Replaced With Compact Fluorescent Lamps." </strong>From a June 6 <em>New York Post </em>editorial:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In six short months, a new dark age will begin to descend on America. Starting on Jan. 1, 2012, federal law begins a phased ban on Edison's gift to mankind: the long-lived and long-loved incandescent light bulb.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The feds demand that they be replaced with Compact Fluorescent Lamps -- squiggly bulbs full of mercury and other mysterious stuff that are supposed to save cash and energy.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[..]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">CFLs are like the aspartame of lights -- similar taste, but less flavorful.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Forcing them on consumers is like banning sugar in favor of Sweet'N Low; Americans <em>might</em> lose weight . . . but for <em>sure </em>they'll be miserable in the process.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Thankfully, House and Senate Republicans have drafted bills to repeal the ban before it goes into effect, undoing part of a 2007 energy law. [<em>New York Post</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nypost.com%2Fp%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fopedcolumnists%2Fcomes_the_darkness_GmJyeYk8rLz9qC4037No6J">6/6/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Human Events: "Millions Of Homes ... Will Be Forced This Year To Switch To Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs." </strong>From a May 29 Human Events column by Lil Tuttle:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Environmentalists aren't concerned, either, about the millions of homes that will be forced this year to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) containing toxic mercury. &nbsp;Women surely should be.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Author and retired environmental cosultant Edmund Contoski has compiled an extensive list of CFL risks, including bulbs spontaneously bursting and causing house fires, broken bulbs releasing 20 times the acceptable mercury level, the emission of ultraviolet rays that damage upholstery fabrics, flooring finishes, photographs and oil and acrylic paintings, and illumination value and bulb life half that promised. [Human Events, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-stage.humanevents.com%2Farticle.php%3Fid%3D43783">5/29/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Varney Claims "The Government Insists We Put" CFLs "In Our Homes." </strong>From the April 28 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Varney & Company</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">VARNEY: The feds want -- well they demand that we switch to so called green light bulbs. But according to a report, they contain cancer causing materials.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">VARNEY: These new light bulbs, which the government insists we put in our homes, contain mercury. And if they break in your home, I believe the Environmental Protection Agency has a whole list of things that you've got to do. &nbsp;[Fox Business Network, <em>Varney & Company, </em>4/28/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong>Forbes.com Claims Consumers Can Only Choose CFLs Or LEDs. </strong>From an April 19 Forbes.com column by Larry Bell:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">So that currently leaves us with two alternatives. It's to either use expensive compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) that contain toxic mercury, or even much pricier light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that don't, but which produce even poorer illumination color quality.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Does any of this maybe cause you to wonder why, if CFLs are that good, government needs to pass a law that requires us to buy them... and to prohibit future sales of a safer type that lots of us continue to prefer? [Forbes.com, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.forbes.com%2Flarrybell%2F2011%2F04%2F19%2Fhow-many-politicians-are-needed-to-screw-up-a-light-bulb%2F">4/19/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>National Review Online: Consumers "Will Now Be Forced To Buy The Expensive $5 CFLs." </strong>From a July 12 National Review Online post by Henry Payne:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">In addition, Conyers and Clarke represent the poorest district in the nation -- Detroit -- where their constituents will now be forced to buy the expensive $5 CFLs favored by green elites in the burbs instead of the more affordable 40-cent bulbs. [National Review Online, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalreview.com%2Fplanet-gore%2F271754%2Fdemocrats-lights-out-working-man-henry-payne">7/12/11</a>]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Nugent: This Administration Is "Forc[ing] Americans To Use 'Environmentally Friendly' Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs." </strong>From Ted Nugent's April 4 <em>Washington Times </em>op-ed:</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Amazingly, a component of this administration's energy policy is to ban Thomas Edison's light bulb and force Americans to use "environmentally friendly" compact fluorescent light bulbs by 2014, all of which are made by communist China and pose serious health and environmental threats due to their mercury content. [<em>The Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fapr%2F4%2Fglowing-with-green-energy%2F%3Fpage%3Dall">4/4/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Wash. Times</em>: In January "Bureaucrats Will Begin Their Campaign To Foist The Mostly Chinese-Made, Compact Fluorescent Bulbs" On The Public.</strong> From an April 1 <em>Washington Times</em> editorial:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ever since then-President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the clock has been ticking on Thomas Edison's venerable incandescent. Unless Congress acts before Jan. 1, 2012, federal bureaucrats will begin their campaign to foist the mostly Chinese-made, compact fluorescent bulbs on a public that has shown no interest in buying them on the free market.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Ideally, Congress would pass the light-bulb freedom measure introduced by Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, which repeals the 2007 ban. Realistically, her measure would have a tough time getting pas</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">t the veto pen of President Obama. That's why states are looking at their own declarations of lighting freedom. It will only take one state's defiance of federal overreach to break the system. Should Mr. Sandifer's bill be the first enacted, there is no doubt the South Carolina will see a substantial increase in tourism next year - as drivers fill the trunks of their cars with mercury-free bulbs. [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fapr%2F1%2Flight-bulb-rights-showdown%2F">4/1/11</a>]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox News: "Now You Have To Go To This Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs." </strong>From the March 22 edition of Fox News' <em>Special Report</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BRET BAIER, HOST: Now we're talking about the phasing out of the 100-watt incandescent light bulbs to be almost 30 percent more energy efficient. They stopped making them and now you have to go to this compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs. Now here's the brochure that what happens when you drop one of these things from the EPA. [Fox News, <em>Special Report</em>, 3/22/11]</font></p>

</blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong><em>Wash. Times </em>Claims Government Passed "A Fluorescent Mandate."</strong> On March 17 the <em>Washington Times </em>published a column titled, "Save Edison's light bulb: Repeal the fluorescent mandate." The column stated: "Americans like the good, old-fashioned Edison light bulb for good reason. Its light is better than that of the newfangled compact fluorescent ones. On the front end, it costs only about one-eighth as much. It's easier to dispose of, with none of the mercury dangers of fluorescents." [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fmar%2F17%2Fsave-edisons-light-bulb%2F">3/17/11</a>]

<strong>Fox Business Network's Smith: "They're Telling Me That I Have To Use This [CFL] In My Home?" </strong>From the March 10 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Follow the Money</em>:</font></p>

<blockquote>

<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BOLLING: You're looking at an American icon, not me, the Easy Bake Oven, as familiar as the hola-hoop, right? This is our piece of history and it's going to go away. Why? Because of this, our president wants to replace it with this [CFL bulb]. 100 watt light bulb is already illegal in some states and that means little Susie can't play with her easy bake oven. Another American icon trashed because of the so-called green technology.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">SANDRA SMITH, FOX BUSINESS: OK, not only are these more expensive for Americans to purchase and now they'll have to in some states, but they are harmful if they are broken.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It's going to make the Easy Bake Oven, a dream of mine as a little girl and I never got it. I am over it though. I just read the ingredients on the brownie mix.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">It is manufactured in China. They have already shut down the last of the GE, you know, manufacturing facilities in Virginia. Two hundred jobs eliminated because we got to use that light bulb.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">SMITH: I just don't like the idea that this is a more expensive. More harmful if it's dropped and harder to clean up. And they're telling me that I have to use this in my home? I have to? [Fox Business Network, <em>Follow the Money</em>, 3/10/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>IBD Claims 2007 Law Contained "CFL Mandates." </strong>From a March 9 <em>Investor's Business Daily </em>editorial:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The legislation sought to save the Earth and make us energy-independent by mandating that the incandescent bulb -- arguably Edison's greatest invention, created without government "investment" -- be eventually replaced by compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Rep. Michele Bachmann's Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act would rescind the CFL mandates unless three conditions are met. First, the bulbs must show "net savings in the combination of monthly electric bills and expenses for new light fixtures to accommodate the new required bulbs." There are other ways to reduce our energy bills, such as increasing supply. Then it must be proved that mandated use of CFLs "will reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2025." Even Kyoto couldn't do that. Finally, it must be shown that "there are no public health risks from the mercury in replacement bulbs at home or in any public building." [<em>Investor's Business Daily</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.investors.com%2FNewsAndAnalysis%2FArticle%2F565494%2F201103091841%2FLight-Liberty-And-.aspx">3/9/11</a>]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">

<strong>Bolling: "We're Forced To Go On A Shopping Spree And Buy" CFLs. </strong>From the January 31 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Follow the Money</em>:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BOLLING: The incandescent bulb is being outlawed. No longer viable. Why? So that we're forced to go on a shopping spree and buy the authorized bulbs [holds up CFL bulb] that require new authorized lamps. They call it going green because it's better for us. Really? Break an incandescent bulb and you can sweep it up. Here's what you have to do to clean up the approved CFL bulbs, a mercury-leaking mess if you drop it. [Fox Business Network, <em>Follow the Money</em>, 1/31/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Heartland Institute's James Taylor Claims Government Is "Mandating These Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs." </strong>From the January 17 edition of Fox News' <em>On the Record With Neil Cavuto</em>:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">JAMES TAYLOR, HEARTLAND INSTITUTE: The real question is why are we mandating these compact fluorescent light bulbs? Because we certainly don't have a dearth of energy. We have enough coal and natural gas to last us for centuries so what's the point of quote unquote saving energy by exposing ourselves to mercury poisoning? [Fox News, <em>n the Record With Neil Cavuto,</em> 1/17/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Ben Stein Claims "Government Will Be Telling Me That I Have To Use" Fluorescent Bulbs That "Have Lead And Mercury In Them." </strong>From the January 8 edition of Fox News' <em>Cavuto on Business</em>:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">BEN STEIN: This is raw, Bolshevik, Orwellian mind control and thought police action. These little curly-cue fluorescent bulbs have lead and mercury in them and all kinds of stuff that poison the atmosphere and poison the soil when you get rid of them. They give me a head ache. I can't stand them. I have been hoarding regular incandescent bulbs now for years.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">[...]</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STEIN: The idea that the government will be telling me that I have to use a bulb that gives me a head ache, it's just micromanaging the life of the ordinary citizen. It is pure dictatorship. [Fox News, <em>Cavuto on Business</em>, 1/8/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong><em>Wash. Times</em>: Law "Only Allows The Sale Of Harsh, Cold Compact Fluorescents." </strong>From a January 5 <em>Washington Times</em> editorial:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The cost of illuminating your home is about to go up significantly. Most Americans take for granted that when they flip a switch, darkness immediately gives way to a warm, natural light. That's no longer possible in California, where a regulation that took effect Jan. 1 only allows the sale of harsh, cold compact fluorescents above a certain wattage. Unless the new<a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Ftopics%2Fcongress%2F"> Congress</a> takes action, the same rules will apply to the rest of the country, beginning next year. [<em>Washington Times</em>, <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fjan%2F5%2Flight-bulb-banning-begins%2F">1/5/11</a>]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Varney: Government Is Telling "Us We Have To Use Those Twisty Mercury-Filled Bulbs." </strong>From the January 4 edition of Fox Business Network's <em>Varney & Company</em>:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STUART VARNEY: In our next hour, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn joins the compnay. We are united in our fight over light bulbs. We do not want the government to tell us we have to use those twisty mercury filled bulbs. [Fox Business, <em>Varney & Company</em>, 1/4/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox's Perino Suggests Consumers Will Only Be Able To Buy "Blue" "Pigtails" -- CFL Bulbs. </strong>From the January 3 edition of Fox News' <em>Fox & Friends</em>:</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">DANA PERINO, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Am the only one that's tired of the blue light bulbs that are being phased in? In 2007, I remember when the energy bill passed in the lame duck session, and President Bush signed the bill. It was a comprehensive bill, and included in it was a ban of incandescent light bulbs. It was billed as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs in America, these green jobs you keep hearing about. And then -- I started panicking, because I thought, I hate those new lights. I hate them. They look blue --</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">STEVE DOOCY (co-host): The pig tails.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">PERINO: -- and they drive me crazy. Plus -- yeah, the ones that are pigtails. Plus, if they break, their mercury content is so high, it can be quite dangerous. So for moms out there, they should be worried about that. [Fox News, <em>Fox & Friends</em>,<a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/201101040005"> 1/3/11</a>]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Fox Guest Keith Larson: "You're Going To Have To Go To Those Squiggly CFL Light Bulbs." </strong>From the January 2 edition of Fox News' <em>America's News HQ:</em></font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">KEITH LARSON, RADIO HOST: This is future contraband. This is going to be effectively illegal in a couple of years. The government has, in essence, banned the good old fashioned Thomas Edison light bulb and you're going to have to go to those squiggly CFL light bulbs and people are saying hey, how many politicians does it take to screw up a light bulb. &nbsp;[Fox News, <em>America's News HQ</em>, 1/2/11]</font></p>

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<p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">— J.K.F. & S.T.</font>

<font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Copyright © 2010 Media Matters for America. All rights reserved.</font></p>

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