Senate lawmakers voted to reverse energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk and spelling the end of yet another Biden-era energy regulation.

On Thursday, the Senate voted 53 to 42 on party lines to undo the Energy Department’s standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, which set requirements to limit the energy used by the appliances.

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The resolution was passed through the Congressional Review Act, allowing lawmakers to bypass the filibuster and take a simple majority vote in both chambers to cancel regulations. Once a Congressional Review Act bill is passed and signed by the president, an agency cannot propose a similar bill in the future. The House passed the resolution last week.

Republicans have argued that energy efficiency standards proposed by Democrats raise costs for consumers and limit consumer choice. 

Since gaining the majority in both chambers, Republicans have used the Congressional Review Act to reverse a number of former President Joe Biden’s energy-related regulations. 

Last month, Trump signed into law two Congressional Review Act resolutions, including one to end an Environmental Protection Agency rule to impose a methane emission fee on oil and natural gas facilities. The president also signed one that reversed a rule requiring oil and gas lessees and operators to submit archaeological reports for exploration or development on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), who sponsored the walk-in coolers and freezers resolution, wrote Thursday on X, “This overturns burdensome regulations on walk-in coolers and freezers, saving taxpayers over a billion dollars!”

The Appliance Standard Awareness Project, which favors more stringent efficiency rules, said the walk-in cooler and freezer standards would have saved businesses around $6.5 billion on utility bills.

“This will just raise bills for restaurants and grocery stores, and those costs will be passed on to consumers,” Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said in a statement. “Axing the standards will lock in needless energy waste at a time when we urgently need electric grid capacity for expanding manufacturing and growing the economy.”

The Energy Department delayed the effective date for the standards on walk-in coolers and freezers last month. The department also paused a rule updating the testing procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps as well as efficiency standards for gas-instantaneous water heaters.

“By removing burdensome regulations put in place by the Biden administration, we are returning freedom of choice to the American people, ensuring consumers can choose the home appliances that work best for their lives and budgets,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at the time. “This power should not belong to the federal government.”

In 2023, industry groups reached a compromise with the Biden Energy Department on standards for refrigerators and freezers, which the department implemented in the final rule.

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However, Republicans said the standards failed to consider the impact on consumer costs. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti urged the Energy Department last year to reevaluate the rule.

“After months of arm-twisting by DOE and advocacy groups, manufacturers relented, and appliance manufacturers and advocacy organizations submitted a new proposal,” Skrmetti said. “Most disconcerting is the lack of consideration for the average consumer, who undoubtedly will be most affected by appliance price hikes due to the new regulations.”