EPA sued over rule weakening HFC phaseout
22nd July 2026
USA: California and Washington are among a coalition of 19 attorney generals and one city suing the US EPA over its rule to roll back refrigerant transition deadlines.
The rule, announced in May, rolls back the maximum 150 GWP limit for refrigerant in retail refrigeration equipment, which was due to be introduced on January 1 2027, to 2032.
The coalition maintains that the delays to the long-established deadlines undermine the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which are designed to phase out HFCs by approximately 85% by 2036.
In the petition filed in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the coalition alleges that the EPA’s new rule is contrary to law and that the EPA fails to justify its change in position.
The coalition argues that the rule also risks creating unnecessary market disruption by weakening the balance between declining HFC supply and demand, increasing the likelihood of shortages and higher costs that could ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The attorneys general also contend that the EPA has ignored the fact that companies have already invested in compliance with the existing rule’s requirements and compliance schedule.
“We’re taking the Trump administration to court, yet again, for its effort to skirt the law with this final rule,” commented California attorney general Rob Bonta. “As the Trump administration continues to bury its head in the sand at the expense of our environment, California will continue to confront the climate crisis head-on and hold the administration accountable for breaking the law.”
Joining Attorney California in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York.
Related stories:
US EPA condemned for “reckless” act – 21 May 2026
USA: HVACR equipment manufacturers and environmental groups have both condemned today’s announcement by the US EPA to roll-back refrigerant transition deadlines on supermarket refrigeration equipment. Read more…
States oppose proposals to weaken AIM Act – 26 November 2025
USA: A multi-state coalition of 19 attorney generals are amongst those supporting a comment letter opposing the US EPA’s proposals to weaken rules to phase down the use of HFCs. Read more…
