EPA Chief Zeldin Defends Looser Refrigerant Rules as Business Flexibility
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Sunday defended a newly unveiled EPA rule that eases restrictions on potent greenhouse gases used in commercial refrigeration, framing the change as relief for businesses facing compliance burdens.
Under the rule announced Wednesday, supermarkets will be permitted to continue using hydrofluorocarbons — compounds that carry a warming potential up to 1,400 times greater than carbon dioxide — through 2032. Zeldin described the policy shift as providing “flexibility” to the grocery industry.
Hydrofluorocarbons have been subject to phasedown efforts under prior federal and international agreements due to their potency as greenhouse gases. Critics of the rollback are likely to argue the extended timeline delays adoption of lower-emission refrigerant alternatives already in use by some retailers.
The rule is among several recent environmental and regulatory actions taken by the Trump administration as it revisits standards set during the Biden years. Implementation is set to remain in effect until 2032, after which further regulatory action would be required.