EPA Chief Zeldin Defends Eased Refrigerant Rules as Business Flexibility
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin defended a new agency rule this week that loosens restrictions on certain greenhouse gases used in commercial refrigeration, framing the change as providing businesses with greater operational flexibility.
The rule, unveiled Wednesday, allows supermarkets to continue using hydrofluorocarbons — compounds that can trap heat at up to 1,400 times the potency of carbon dioxide — in refrigeration systems through 2032. Zeldin, speaking Sunday, said the move reflects the Trump administration’s approach of reducing regulatory burdens on businesses.
Hydrofluorocarbons are widely used in grocery store refrigeration equipment. Environmental groups have pushed to phase out the compounds in favor of lower-emission alternatives, while industry groups have argued that a rapid transition poses logistical and cost challenges for retailers.
The EPA rule extends a window for businesses to maintain existing systems rather than accelerate upgrades to alternative refrigerants. The 2032 deadline gives affected industries roughly six years to adjust operations under the revised framework.