New York to phase out HFC refrigerants

USA: New York has announced it will follow California and adopt regulations to phase out the use of HFC refrigerants.

New York governor Andrew M Cuomo yesterday announced he was directing the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to adopt the 2015 and 2016 changes to the USA’s SNAP regulations that the US Environmental Protection Agency is abandoning under the Trump administration.

“While the Trump administration denies climate change and rolls back efforts to protect our planet, New York is picking up the mantle of climate leadership and forging a path forward,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are taking action to begin the phase out of the use of hydrofluorocarbons, and I encourage other states to join with New York and California to combat dangerous HFCs.”

The phase out, which would be implemented from 2020-2024, is expected to reduce HFC emissions by more than 20% of projected levels by 2030. DEC will be seeking input on the proposal prior to proceeding with a formal rulemaking, with the intent of finalising a rule in 2019.

New York can provide funding of nearly $9m through, including grants for municipalities to reduce refrigerant leakage, replace or retrofit refrigeration, chillers or air conditioning equipment with low GWP refrigerants; install refrigerant leakage monitoring equipment; establish monitoring and repair plans; establish enhanced disposal programmes to recover and recycle refrigerants; and adopt codes or standards to encourage the use of alternative refrigerants. An additional $1m will be available for other projects to address HFCs and other short-lived climate pollutants.

New York will announce this new step against HFCs at the Global Climate Action Summit being held on September 13-14 in San Francisco.

Related stories:

California votes to restrict HFC use – 31 August 2018
USA: California has voted to pass the California Cooling Act which will restrict the use of high GWP HFC refrigerants and other HFC compounds. Read more…