Montgomery, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of 15 states and the National Association of Home Builders to challenge new federal energy efficiency standards implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The coalition argues that the standards will significantly increase housing costs, making homeownership less attainable for low-income and first-time buyers.
The coalition contends that the requirements, designed to enhance energy efficiency, will impose financial burdens far beyond the agencies’ projections. HUD and USDA estimate an additional cost of up to $8,345 per new home, but industry professionals suggest the true impact could exceed $30,000 per unit. These increases could affect over 161,000 single-family homes and 17,000 multi-family units annually, potentially reducing the availability of affordable housing.
Attorney General Marshall criticized the Biden administration for adopting policies that, he argues, disproportionately affect low-income Americans. “Biden’s bureaucrats at HUD and USDA thought it was wise to impose energy-efficiency requirements that stand to cost low-income homebuyers over $30,000. That’s ridiculous,” Marshall stated. He further accused the administration of undermining affordable housing efforts amid rising inflation and cost-of-living challenges.