EPA Issues New Rule on HFC Phasedown

On September 23, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new rule, based on its proposal released last May, to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the United States by 85% by 2036. The rule was authorized by the U.S. Congress as part of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which gives the EPA new power to regulate HFCs. The AIM Act mandates the EPA to regulate HFCs by phasing down their production and consumption, maximizing reclamation and minimizing releases of HFCs and their substitutes in equipment including air conditioners and refrigeration equipment, and facilitating the transition to next-generation technologies by restricting the use of HFCs in certain sectors.