I have been an Amateur Radio Operator for over 35 years. Emergency communication is the most important aspect of the hobby. When all else fails there is Ham Radio. That is because most of our equipment is portable and can operate without any infrastructure at all. All we need to establish reliable worldwide communications is wire antennas supported by trees, our radio equipment, and a way to power the equipment that does no rely on commercial power. Portable gas powered generators are absolutely perfect for that.
When I saw this headline, Proposed New Biden Rule Essentially Bans All Portable Gas Powered Generators Currently On The Market (thefederalistpapers.org), I was absolutely outraged because I knew that ban would be very detrimental to all emergency communications, not just ham radio. This will cost a lot of lives.
The Biden administration is working on a new rule through the Consumer Product Safety Commission that limits the carbon monoxide emissions of products. The rule is so stringent that 95% of the current portable gas generators on the market wouldn’t meet the standard. Industry insiders have warned that this could result in a massive shortage of generators since it would take manufacturers years, not the given six months, to design compliant generators.
The only other practical alternative to portable generators are solar panels and car batteries. I know from a lot of experience that they are no where near as reliable.
There is no valid reason for the ban. The vast majority of individuals know generators produce carbon monoxide, which can kill you.
Ham Radio Operators will not be the only ones negatively impacted.
Portable gas generators play a crucial role in helping approximately five million households keep their lights on during power outages. If the proposed rule comes into effect, these generators could become exceedingly hard to obtain as manufacturers will be prohibited from stockpiling non-compliant generators before the rule is enacted.
This proposed rule follows closely behind a similar one by Biden-backed commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. which is aimed at banning gas stoves, a move he terms as mitigating a “hidden hazard.” This comes at a time when many parts of America are facing increased risks of power outages due to an over-reliance on green energy. The inability to meet electricity demand, especially during peak times, has already led to power blackouts in states like California.
This ban is not necessary at all.
The Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association has already implemented voluntary standards to ensure safety from carbon monoxide emissions, requiring generators to automatically shut off when carbon monoxide concentrations reach certain levels, among other safety measures. The Biden administration, however, argues that more stringent emission caps are needed
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