EPA Chief Zeldin Defends Loosened Refrigerant Rules as Business Flexibility
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin defended a newly issued rule this weekend that relaxes restrictions on potent greenhouse gases used in commercial refrigeration, framing the change as regulatory relief for businesses.
The updated EPA rule, unveiled Wednesday, allows supermarkets to continue using hydrofluorocarbons — synthetic refrigerants up to 1,400 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas — in commercial cooling systems through 2032. Zeldin described the policy shift as providing “flexibility” to affected industries.
Hydrofluorocarbons are widely used in grocery store refrigeration systems. Environmental groups have long pushed for their phase-down under international climate agreements, arguing the gases contribute significantly to atmospheric warming. The Trump administration’s rule extends the window for commercial use rather than accelerating the transition to lower-impact alternatives.
The EPA move is part of a broader effort by the administration to ease compliance timelines for businesses facing regulatory mandates tied to climate policy goals.