HFC Cuts in COVID Relief Bill (2020) — Including Responsive EPA Proposals

In December 2020, Congress passed COVID relief legislation which included specific HFC measures. The legislation includes measures to direct spending to boost renewable energy and limit the use of HFC refrigerants that are extremely potent heat trapping greenhouse gasses. The bill effectively requires American companies to comply with the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and reduce production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to about 15% of 2012 levels by 2036.

In April 2021, EPA followed through with a proposed rule to decrease U.S. production and use of the gases by 85% over the next 15 years. The proposed rule would establish an allowance allocation and trading program to achieve the cuts.