A company that embraced the Biden administration’s efforts to force climate-friendly requirements on residential appliances is behind a last-ditch lobbying effort to save a controversial rule targeting gas-powered residential water heaters—even as other industry manufacturers say that rule will cost them millions of dollars.
A.O. Smith, the nation’s largest water heater manufacturer, circulated a memorandum to Republican Senate offices last week, imploring lawmakers to support the Biden-era regulations and, in particular, to vote against Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R., Texas) bill that would overturn those regulations. A.O. Smith vice president Joshua Greene, a former Democratic congressional aide, authored the memo in mid-January, a Washington Free Beacon review of the document’s metadata found.
The effort is noteworthy because it reveals how federal regulations, including those designed to fight global warming, can be weaponized to boost a company’s bottom line. It also puts a spotlight on A.O. Smith’s coordination with the Biden administration as it sought to crack down on appliances and funnel taxpayer funds to climate programs.
In August, the Department of Energy awarded A.O. Smith with a $25 million green energy grant to expand its electric heat pump water heater manufacturing capabilities, something that likely makes it easier for the company to move on from manufacturing the gas-powered models impacted by the regulations finalized in December. An industry source familiar with A.O. Smith’s business told the Free Beacon that the company has agreed in recent years to stop manufacturing most of its gas-powered tankless water heater models—the same ones targeted by the Biden-era regulations—in favor of tank water heaters and electric heat pump water heaters. In other words, the company is largely insulated from the rules.
Rinnai America—a water heater manufacturer that, unlike A.O. Smith, largely sells gas-powered tankless models—is not. Rinnai told the Free Beacon last month that the Biden administration’s regulations “make no sense” and would cost the company tens of millions of dollars. Rinnai also joined a lawsuit filed last month by Republican-led states and industry groups challenging the rules. […]
— Read More: freebeacon.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
