The House of Representatives voted last week in favor of two Congressional Review Act (CRA) measures that would overturn two Biden-era regulations mandating stricter energy efficiency standards for commercial cooling appliances. One would impose tougher efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, and the other would do the same thing for commercial refrigerators and freezers.

Ahead of the vote, NACS, along with the National Grocers Association and FMI – The Food Industry Association, sent a letter expressing support for House Joint Resolution 24, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05). The resolution would overturn the Department of Energy’s (DOE) final rule on energy standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, which requires store owners that use this equipment to invest in expensive, highly specialized refrigeration equipment starting in 2029.

In the letter, the associations wrote that “retailers may not have the ability to take on the significant, upfront expense of this government-mandated technology upgrade, because they are already dealing with record-high costs for labor, utilities and merchandise. Additional financial pressures mean retailers would either be forced to absorb these costs at great risk to their own business or pass them along to consumers in the form of higher prices.”

Replacing these units would also require time for installation, which could lead to disruptions in store operations. Additionally, older stores may require costly electrical or structural upgrades to accommodate newer equipment, and new stores may be unable to be built as rapidly due to the increased cost of new equipment.

Both measures must still pass in the Senate before they can take effect. If approved, they would then require the president’s signature to be enacted into law. Until that happens, the energy efficiency standards remain in place, posing potential cost burdens on businesses nationwide.