AHRI, Alliance Member Companies Urge Congress to Act on HFCs
ARLINGTON, Va. — In a letter sent to the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 32 members of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, urged support for proposed federal legislation to establish a national structure for the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.
Noting that, "U.S. companies that produce and use fluorocarbons have been preparing for a transition from HFCs for more than a decade, investing billions in R&D to be the first to bring to market next-generation fluorocarbon products and equipment," the letter expresses concern that while "American companies have led the world in fluorocarbon technology development for decades … that leadership – and the advantages it confers to the U.S. economy – is jeopardized by the lack of a federal policy for HFCs. The letter warns that inaction on the part of federal policy makers would result in "foreign competitors … poised to fill the technology void and displace American companies in a global fluorocarbon market expected to reach $1 trillion in size."
"Federal legislation phasing down HFCs represents a chance to put America first and to keep
American workers at the forefront of this important global industry," the letter states, noting that, "A recent industry economic study showed that a new federal standard for the phase down of HFCs would create 33,000 new U.S. manufacturing jobs, add $12.5 billion per year to the U.S. economy, and expand U.S. exports in this sector by 25%. Failure to do so will cost U.S. businesses and jobs."
The House and Senate are considering introduction of legislation to phase-down the use of HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases. For more information, visit www.ahrinet.org.
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