In May 2026, the EPA finalized a rule that extends deadlines for grocery store chains and other businesses to transition to alternative refrigerants by five or more years. It also raises the applicable GWP limits for refrigeration equipment sold in the interim.

In a press release issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the coalition says the EPA’s final rule undermines the AIM Act and increases harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.

“From blankets of wildfire smoke to worsening storms and floods to exceedingly high temperatures, we are experiencing the climate crisis in real time,” said James in the release. “Congress passed a bipartisan law to reduce some of the most dangerous greenhouse gases because the costs of inaction are simply too high.

“The EPA cannot ignore that law and put our communities at risk. My office is taking action to ensure these critical climate protections remain in place.”

On Monday, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a similar lawsuit, saying the rollback will hurt industries trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also argues the transition prolongs market uncertainty and refrigerant shortages that could lead to increased grocery prices.

“Despite the Trump administration’s claims, delaying the shift away from these super-pollutants will raise prices across the board, saddling American families with higher grocery bills and more expensive air conditioner repairs,” said David Doniger, senior strategist for climate at NRDC, in a written statement.

“At a time when millions of Americans are feeling the costs of climate-fueled heat and drought, this action will increase the pollution that’s fueling the climate crisis.”

These lawsuits join others filed by five industry groups, including the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International, and the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors National Association.

The organizations say extending the commercial refrigeration deadlines will increase demand for legacy refrigerants at a time when supplies are growing scarce.

“Allowing legacy refrigerants to be used longer in new commercial refrigeration systems creates confusion for the contractors who install and service this equipment and hurts consumers,” said PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan.

The lawsuits are similar but target different aspects of the EPA’s final rule. Environmental groups argue the rule weakens HFC restrictions, while HVAC organizations say the delayed deadlines could disrupt refrigerant supplies and create confusion in the marketplace.

Despite their contentions, ACCA, HARDI, and PHCC expressed support for EPA’s decision to eliminate installation restrictions on existing R-410A residential and light commercial split-system air conditioners and heat pumps.

For HVAC contractors, the litigation mainly affects commercial refrigeration projects. Residential contractors won’t see as much of an impact since the rule generally supports existing R-410A to continue to be installed.

Unless a court grants an injunction, the EPA’s rule remains in effect as the litigation proceeds.

What the Rule Does

Under the final rule, the EPA removed the Jan. 1, 2026 installation deadline (not the manufacturing deadline) for residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump systems using refrigerants with a GWP above 700, as long as the equipment was manufactured or imported before Jan. 1, 2025.

Contractors and distributors can install existing pre-2025 inventory until supplies are depleted, rather than being forced to stop installations at the start of 2026.

For supermarkets and other retail food refrigeration systems, the EPA temporarily raised the allowable refrigerant GWP limit from 150 or 300 to 1,400 GWP, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, through Jan. 1, 2032. After that date, the lower GWP limits of 150 or 300, depending on the system’s size and configuration, will take effect.

The HFC Transition

In 2020, Congress passed the AIM Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump, to phase down HFCs. The law originally directed the EPA to phase down HFC production and consumption by 85% by 2036. The EPA adopted standards that require manufacturers to use low-GWP refrigerants in covered equipment categories.

In 2023, the EPA issued a Technology Transitions Rule under the AIM Act to enable the industry’s transition to alternative refrigerants. This set deadlines for businesses to purchase equipment using lower-GWP refrigerants, such as A2Ls, when building new systems or replacing existing ones.

Following the approval of the final rule, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency’s actions allow businesses to choose the refrigeration systems that work best for them, saving them billions of dollars.

“This will be felt directly by American families in lower grocery prices,” he said.

The EPA estimated over $900 million in cost savings from revisions to the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule, including more than $800 million for supermarket refrigeration.