Should Minnesota Homes be Concerned of Gas Stoves Being Banned this Year?

Do you have a gas stove, an electric one or maybe you have an induction stove?

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For those that have a gas stove, or have considered getting one in the future have you heard the talk lately about having gas stoves banned? Not just in Minnesota but all over the country. I'll be honest I had not really seen much on this until I had it brought to my attention by my boyfriend.

We both grew up with gas stoves. My parents still have one here in Minnesota and I've always felt that it cooks better and more evenly than the different electric stoves I have cooked with over the years. After we settled in the area for a bit here around St. Cloud, my boyfriend and I had talked about eventually buying a house with a dream kitchen, and it would include a nice, big, beautiful gas stove.

After hearing the possibility now of not having such a stove in the future I needed to learn more about what was going on. Turns out that Richard Trumka Jr. a Consumer Product Safety Commission commissioner since 2021, recently told Bloomberg a ban is possible, stating,

This is a hidden hazard, any option is on the table. Products that can't be made safe can be banned.

This is all in regards to natural gas stoves emitting air pollutants, and as reported by Bloomberg:

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EPA and World Health Organization have said are unsafe and linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other health conditions, according to reports by groups such as the Institute for Policy Integrirty and American Chemical Society.

I have known for a while that when lighting your gas stove, you do want to make sure it actually lights and you aren't just letting carbon monoxide leak through. It can definitely be dangerous. But when it's reported that at least 40% of homes in America have gas stoves, how are you suddenly going to ban all of these stoves?

Turns out IF they were to ban gas stoves, it wouldn't concern anyone who already had a gas stove. The ban or any new regulations would be on new gas stoves. Which still wouldn't be something many would like, especially, if there was a complete ban. After several Democrats and Republicans both stood up against the banning of gas stoves, Alex Hoehn-Saric - the Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - finally issued a statement hoping to clear up the issue:

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So it appears at this time, those of us who like gas stoves in Minnesota and anywhere in the Country, can breathe a sigh of relief for now. But who knows what the future holds. I am sure they will try to find ways to make gas stoves better and safer, but a full on ban of them I have a hard time believing. Have you seen the kitchen at restaurants and the giant, beautiful gas stoves they use. Are you telling me if they banned gas stoves, restaurants everywhere would have to eventually change from them? Something tells me this won't be happening, but Trumka did note, according to CBS,

A proposed regulation could be on the books as early as December 2023.

So wait and see we will.