The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warning to California regulators, threatening legal intervention if the state proceeds with strict energy efficiency policies that would effectively phase out certain gas appliances. The move signals a direct clash between federal efforts to promote domestic energy resources and California’s ambitious climate agenda.

U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli sent a letter on Thursday night to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), cautioning that the DOJ is prepared to take legal action if the SCAQMD enacts rules requiring manufacturers to ensure 90% of their furnace and water heater sales are zero-emission models by 2036.

This warning aligns with an executive order from President Donald Trump, which directs the DOJ to actively challenge

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