Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulations Act

This bill would stop federal agencies from using “social cost” estimates for greenhouse gases (like carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide) when they write rules, issue guidance, or take other actions. It also bans using these numbers in any cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness analysis required by law or executive orders, and from using them as a justification for agency actions.

It also requires each agency to send Congress a report within 120 days after the bill becomes law. The report must list how many proposed and final rules, guidance documents, and other actions since January 2009 used these social cost measures, including when they were used in cost-benefit analyses under Executive Order 12866 or other authority.

• Who is affected: All federal agencies.
• What changes: Agencies may not consider or rely on the social cost of carbon, methane, nitrous oxide, or other greenhouse gases in rulemaking, guidance, other actions, or cost-benefit analyses.
• When: If enacted, agency reports would be due within 120 days, covering uses of these measures back to January 2009.