Many Americans have understandingly expressed concern, frustration, and opposition to how the Biden EPA, through its Technology Transitions Rule for refrigerants, was implementing the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The AIM Act is a federal law that requires EPA to phase down HFCs by 85% by 2036.
In practice, the Biden EPA’s Technology Transitions Rule established more aggressive restrictions than required by law, resulting in higher grocery costs, reduced access to residential AC units and supplies, and far more complicated maintenance of equipment. It also hurt semiconductor manufacturing in our country. At the Trump EPA, we are taking action to fix this mess we inherited, which includes proposed flexibility on compliance deadlines while staying within the boundaries of the law. We will do EVERYTHING in our power to assist! If finalized, our proposed rule would correct what many have raised as a grave mistake by the Biden Admin. And for those who just want to directly eliminate (or amend) the federal law altogether, I’d note that would obviously require an entirely new Act of Congress.
The bottom line is this: The Biden EPA Technology Transitions Rule for refrigerants is simply unworkable, and the Trump EPA is committed to fixing as much of it as permitted under the law.