WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced two actions on a final rule revising the Biden-era 2023 Technology Transitions Rule and a proposed technical fix to the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) Rule, both of which address costly restrictions on the types of refrigerants American businesses and families can use.
WHO IT AFFECTS: The actions would affect grocers, semiconductor manufacturers and other companies that use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
WHAT’S IN THE RULES: The final revisions to the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule extend compliance deadlines for the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), making a wider variety of refrigerants available to businesses while still meeting statutory requirements. EPA is also proposing to exempt all road refrigerant transport appliances from HFC leak repair requirements established in the 2024 ER&R Rule, removing burdens for owners and major U.S. operators of these appliances.
WILL IT REDUCE COSTS: According to a White House Fact Sheet, changes to the Technology Transitions Rule are estimated to save Americans over $900 million, including over $800 million at the supermarket level, and will safeguard over 350,000 high-skilled American jobs. Changes to the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Rule could save transporters of refrigerated goods, including food, up to $1.5 billion.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Americans were right to be frustrated with the Biden-era refrigerant rules. They didn’t protect human health or the environment and instead piled on costly, unattainable restrictions beyond what the law requires,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.
EPA Commissioner Lee Zeldin. Source: ABC News
WHAT’S NEXT: EPA has indicated it will also be reconsidering the remainder of the 2024 ER&R Rule in the future.
