The U.S. Government Wants to Ban Your Gas Stove
There are lots of people who don't like to cook on an electric stove. For one thing, gas can be much cheaper than electricity. Gas stoves and ovens heat faster and are more versatile for grilling, searing and simmering.
On top of that, the stovetop is much easier to clean.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission now says that gas stoves may have to be regulated or totally banned.
That means 40% of households in the U.S. will have to buy a new stove.
The head of the Commission Richard Trumpka Jr. told Bloomberg News,
"Any option is on the table. Products that can't be made safe can be banned."
It is a well-documented fact that gas stoves emit pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter at unsafe levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
They have been linked to many diseases including childhood asthma and cardiovascular diseases, and these conditions disproportionately affect minority and lower-income households.
Manufacturing interests argue that cooking produces harmful emissions, regardless of the kind of stove used. They say the important issue is better ventilation.
For many, talk of banning gas stoves just reinforces the whole notion that governments in free societies should back off when it comes to allowing people to make their own decisions. If you know of the dangers of cooking on gas, including the danger of gas leaks and potential explosions, and you still want to have a gas range, then should you have the right to do so?
Since, Texas is one of the nation's largest natural gas suppliers, banning these appliances will have an even larger impact on the economy of Texas than on other states.
In any event, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will begin hearings on the matter later in the year. When it comes time to comment on the matter, let's hope gas stove supporters come out in mass.
Your free choice of cooking appliance may rest in the balance.
Here are 50 of your favorite retail chains that no longer exist.
