NEW YORK, NY September 08, 2005 —Eliot Spitzer and 14 other attorneys general are suing the U.S. Energy Department. They allege the agency is not following a federal law requiring new energy-efficient standards for appliances.

Spitzer says the government has never really complied with the National Energy Appliance Efficiency Act, which President Reagan signed into law in 1987. It mandated that the Energy Department create standards for everything from air conditioners to pool heaters. In the last 18 years, the agency has issued guidelines for 5 classes of appliances - including refrigerators and clothes washers - but has not done so for more than 20 other categories. The attorneys general say there is precedent for states suing Washington to implement legislation. In a brief written statement, Energy Department officials said they will not comment on legal actions but say the Bush administration has been, quote, "a leader in promoting energy conservation and energy efficiency." For WNYC, I'm Fred Mogul.