June 13, 2017 – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday joined a coalition of 11 attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for failing to implement energy-efficiency standards.

The suit contends that the US Department of Energy is violating federal law by delaying standards for portable air conditioners, walk-in freezers and coolers, air compressors, and commercial boilers, Healey’s office said in a statement.

“These standards will save consumers money on their energy bills, significantly reduce air pollution, and promote a clean energy economy,” she said.

The Energy Department declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

The complaint asserts that these standards would save consumers and businesses an estimated $11.6 billion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 159 million tons, and conserve 242 billion kilowatt hours of electricity over three decades.

The department was legally required to issue energy-use standards for the five products by March 15 but has yet to do so, according to Healey’s office.

Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general from California, New York, Washington, Maine, Connecticut, Illinois, Vermont, Oregon, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as the City of New York, according to the statement.

A similar suit about delays in ceiling fans standards was filed in April. The department finalized that standard May 24, according to the statement.

“I will not hesitate to go to court to ensure that the Trump administration cannot block common-sense standards like these from going into effect, as the law requires,” Healey said.

By Andrew Grant, Globe Correspondent
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