EPA Proposes HFC Phase Down Rule for Refrigeration Sector RELATIONS government

BY LOWELL RANDEL, IIAR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR

On December 9th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to advance the transition to more efficient heating and cooling technologies by restricting the use of hydrofluorocarbons and refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment beginning in 2025. EPA has listed entities potentially impacted by the rule to include companies that manufacture, import, export, package, sell or otherwise distribute products that use or are intended to use HFCs, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, heat pumps, foams, and aerosols.

Under the AIM Act, EPA is implementing a national HFC phasedown to achieve a 40% reduction below historic levels starting in 2024 and an 85%

(HFCs) in certain products and equipment. The AIM Act authorizes EPA to limit or prohibit the use of HFCs in specific sectors and to phase in these requirements over time as appropriate. The proposed rule addresses IIAR’s petition to EPA, as well as other petitions granted in October 2021. The regulation would restrict the use of HFCs used in certain foams, aerosol products,