Thanks to a law passed in 2007 mandating 100 watt bulbs meet certain standards. Well most didn’t, so they will no longer be sold. Well now there will be LED bulbs that meet the criteria. However the price will be steep, $50 a bulb.

NEW YORK – Two leading makers of lighting products are showcasing LED bulbs that are bright enough to replace energy-guzzling 100-watt light bulbs set to disappear from stores in January.

Their demonstrations at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia this week mean that brighter LED bulbs will likely go on sale next year, but after a government ban takes effect.

The new bulbs will also be expensive — about $50 each — so the development may not prevent consumers from hoarding traditional bulbs.

[…]

To encourage energy efficiency, Congress passed a law in 2007 mandating that bulbs producing 100 watts worth of light meet certain efficiency goals, starting in 2012. Conventional light bulbs don’t meet those goals, so the law will prohibit making or importing them. The same rule will start apply to remaining bulbs 40 watts and above in 2014. Since January, California has already banned stores from restocking 100-watt incandescent bulbs.

Read the rest: LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms

$50 light bulbs thanks to the hysteria over global warming. Another example of how Federal action created economic distortions.