Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rulemaking detailing how it plans to ban the use of many HFCs in new air conditioners and commercial refrigeration equipment. The rulemaking is part of the AIM Act, which tasks EPA with phasing down the production and consumption of HFCs by 85% by 2036; maximizing refrigerant reclamation and reducing leaks; and restricting the use of regulated HFCs in sectors or subsectors where they are used. This rulemaking addresses the third area, specifically, transitioning to alternatives through sector-based restrictions.
In the proposed rule, all restrictions would occur in two stages: The manufacture or import of products would be prohibited by either 2025 or 2026, depending on the sector or subsector, followed a year later by a prohibition on the sale, distribution, offer for sale or distribution, export, and other activities pertaining to those products (see Tables 1 and 2). This proposed rulemaking addresses all petitions that EPA has granted thus far.