EPA Chief Zeldin Says Loosened Refrigerant Rules Give Businesses Greater Flexibility
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin defended a newly unveiled agency rule on Sunday, saying the Trump administration is offering businesses greater flexibility in how they use certain refrigerants in commercial cooling systems.
The rule, announced Wednesday, allows supermarkets to continue using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in refrigeration equipment through 2032. HFCs are greenhouse gases considered significantly more potent than carbon dioxide — in some cases up to 1,400 times as warming — and had previously faced tighter restrictions under prior EPA policy.
The change primarily affects grocery retailers, who rely on commercial refrigeration systems that commonly use HFC-based coolants. The extended timeline gives the industry additional years to transition away from the compounds without immediate compliance pressure.
The rollback is one of several environmental regulatory adjustments made by the EPA under the current administration. For context on other environmental and infrastructure developments, see recent reporting on a chemical tank hazard situation in California that officials say has since been resolved.