USA
On 27 December 2020, a new law took effect in the USA requiring the production and consumption of HFCs be phased down 85% over the next 15 years. Learn more.
Finalized HFC bans:
California: For a summary of HFC prohibitions and effective dates, visit the California Air Resources Board's web page titled "What HFCs are Prohibited in California and Why?" In early 2020, California proposed modifying and expanding the HFC prohibitions. A summary of the existing regulation and expansion is available here.
Colorado: In May of 2020, Colorado's Air Quality Control Commissions approved the proposed Regulation 22, Colorado's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting and Emission Reduction Requirements rule. This rule has two parts. The first part deals with GHG reporting requirements, and the second part restricts the use of high global-warming-potential HFCs in line with the bans being established by other states.
Delaware: In 2019, Delaware announced plans to phase out high global warming potential HFCs. Delaware Regulation 1151 is very similar to those being proposed by other states. The rules were finalized in the spring of 2021.
Maine: On the 18th of February 2020, Maine Governor Mills announced “An Act to Restrict the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons” which directed the Department of Environmental Protection to do rulemaking that establishes a reasonable and orderly transition to products and equipment that use climate-friendly alternative to HFCs, beginning in 2021. In June of 2021, the Legislature passed House Bill 266, "An Act To Limit the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons To Fight Climate Change." The law was signed by the Governor on June 14, 2021.
Maryland: Maryland committed to phase down HFCs in 2018 and initiated a rulemaking in 2019. A stakeholder meeting presentation dated 23 September 2019 provided an overview of the proposed regulation, including prohibited substances and effective dates. In July 2020, the Maryland Department of Environment released their technical support document and proposed rules were published in the July 17 edition of the MD register. Rules were finalized in fall 2020. More information on the final regulations is available here.
Massachusetts: On the 18th of February 2020, Massachusetts announced plans to propose regulations, concurrent with efforts in the states of Maine and Rhode Island, to prohibit high global warming potential HFCs. Regulations were finalized at the end of 2020 and can be found at https://www.mass.gov/doc/310-cmr-776-prohibitions-on-use-of-certain-hydrofluorocarbons/download.
New Jersey: On January 21, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law a bill that prohibits the sale or installation of certain equipment using HFCs. A copy of the new law is now available.
New York: In September 2020, New York formally announced that new regulations to phase down HFCs had been finalized. Leading up to that announcement, the Department of Environmental Conservation prepared a new regulation, 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reportingm, prohibiting high-GWP HFCs. Prohibitions go into effect statewide over 2021-2024 and cover the sale, installation, and use of certain HFCs in new or retrofitted food refrigeration equipment, air conditioning equipment or chillers, vending machines, aerosols, and foams. View the regulatory information at https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/119026.html.
Rhode Island: On the 18th of February 2020, Rhode Island joined the states of Maine and Massachusetts in announcing plans to phase down HFCs. The Department of Environmental Management finalized the regulations in 2021. They are available at: https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/250-120-05-53.
Washington: The Washington Department of Ecology adopted a rule in 2019 to transition away from using potent HFCs in products and equipment starting Jan. 1, 2020. The restrictions go into effect at different times for each product category:
Vermont: In 2019, Vermont passed legislation establishing new laws phasing down the use of HFCs. A copy of the law as enacted is available at https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/S.30
Virginia: In May 2020, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a new law requiring Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board to adopt similar HFC restrictions. The rules were finalized in the summer of 2021.
Proposed Bans:
Connecticut: After receiving orders to develop regulations to phase down HFCs in the fall of 2018, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reportedly began developing regulations in 2019. Proposed rules were expected to be substantially similar to those proposed by other Climate Alliance states.
Hawaii: Legislation was introduced in 2020 to restrict the use of HFCs.
New Mexico: The 2020 New Mexico Climate Report states on page 20 that "NMED is writing rules to mitigate HFC emissions, including entirely phasing out the use of HFCs in New Mexico. NMED will hold initial informational public meetings on these regulations starting in summer 2021, petition the EIB in September 2021 to hold a hearing on the proposed rules, and finalize those rules by the end of 2021." After the passage of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act phasing down HFCs, New Mexico sent a letter urging EPA to act swiftly to phase down HFCs in products.
Oregon: HFC legislation was introduced in Oregon in 2020, mirroring bans and phase-down schedules enacted in other states. See HB4024 for details at: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2020R1/Measures/Overview/HB4024
Pennsylvania: The PA Department of Environmental Protection has begun stakeholder meetings on the HFC phase-down. A presentation dated 22 April 2020 suggested that Pennsylvania would adopt regulations modeled after those enacted by other states in the US Climate Alliance, with regulations finalized in 2021. As of summer 2021, those rules are on hold pending action on HFCs by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas: Senate Bill 125 was introduced in Texas in 2021, and if adopted, would phase down HFCs in line with similar timeframes established on other US states.
California: For a summary of HFC prohibitions and effective dates, visit the California Air Resources Board's web page titled "What HFCs are Prohibited in California and Why?" In early 2020, California proposed modifying and expanding the HFC prohibitions. A summary of the existing regulation and expansion is available here.
Colorado: In May of 2020, Colorado's Air Quality Control Commissions approved the proposed Regulation 22, Colorado's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting and Emission Reduction Requirements rule. This rule has two parts. The first part deals with GHG reporting requirements, and the second part restricts the use of high global-warming-potential HFCs in line with the bans being established by other states.
Delaware: In 2019, Delaware announced plans to phase out high global warming potential HFCs. Delaware Regulation 1151 is very similar to those being proposed by other states. The rules were finalized in the spring of 2021.
Maine: On the 18th of February 2020, Maine Governor Mills announced “An Act to Restrict the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons” which directed the Department of Environmental Protection to do rulemaking that establishes a reasonable and orderly transition to products and equipment that use climate-friendly alternative to HFCs, beginning in 2021. In June of 2021, the Legislature passed House Bill 266, "An Act To Limit the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons To Fight Climate Change." The law was signed by the Governor on June 14, 2021.
Maryland: Maryland committed to phase down HFCs in 2018 and initiated a rulemaking in 2019. A stakeholder meeting presentation dated 23 September 2019 provided an overview of the proposed regulation, including prohibited substances and effective dates. In July 2020, the Maryland Department of Environment released their technical support document and proposed rules were published in the July 17 edition of the MD register. Rules were finalized in fall 2020. More information on the final regulations is available here.
Massachusetts: On the 18th of February 2020, Massachusetts announced plans to propose regulations, concurrent with efforts in the states of Maine and Rhode Island, to prohibit high global warming potential HFCs. Regulations were finalized at the end of 2020 and can be found at https://www.mass.gov/doc/310-cmr-776-prohibitions-on-use-of-certain-hydrofluorocarbons/download.
New Jersey: On January 21, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law a bill that prohibits the sale or installation of certain equipment using HFCs. A copy of the new law is now available.
New York: In September 2020, New York formally announced that new regulations to phase down HFCs had been finalized. Leading up to that announcement, the Department of Environmental Conservation prepared a new regulation, 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reportingm, prohibiting high-GWP HFCs. Prohibitions go into effect statewide over 2021-2024 and cover the sale, installation, and use of certain HFCs in new or retrofitted food refrigeration equipment, air conditioning equipment or chillers, vending machines, aerosols, and foams. View the regulatory information at https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/119026.html.
Rhode Island: On the 18th of February 2020, Rhode Island joined the states of Maine and Massachusetts in announcing plans to phase down HFCs. The Department of Environmental Management finalized the regulations in 2021. They are available at: https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/250-120-05-53.
Washington: The Washington Department of Ecology adopted a rule in 2019 to transition away from using potent HFCs in products and equipment starting Jan. 1, 2020. The restrictions go into effect at different times for each product category:
- Jan. 1, 2020 — propellants, rigid polyurethane, spray insulating foam, and new supermarket refrigeration systems
- Jan. 1, 2021 — new refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment, and compact residential refrigerators
- Jan. 1, 2022 — new residential refrigerators, vending machines
- Jan. 1, 2023 — new uses in cold-storage warehouses and built-in residential refrigerators
- Jan. 1, 2024 — new uses in centrifugal and positive displacement industrial chillers
Vermont: In 2019, Vermont passed legislation establishing new laws phasing down the use of HFCs. A copy of the law as enacted is available at https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/S.30
Virginia: In May 2020, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a new law requiring Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board to adopt similar HFC restrictions. The rules were finalized in the summer of 2021.
Proposed Bans:
Connecticut: After receiving orders to develop regulations to phase down HFCs in the fall of 2018, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reportedly began developing regulations in 2019. Proposed rules were expected to be substantially similar to those proposed by other Climate Alliance states.
Hawaii: Legislation was introduced in 2020 to restrict the use of HFCs.
New Mexico: The 2020 New Mexico Climate Report states on page 20 that "NMED is writing rules to mitigate HFC emissions, including entirely phasing out the use of HFCs in New Mexico. NMED will hold initial informational public meetings on these regulations starting in summer 2021, petition the EIB in September 2021 to hold a hearing on the proposed rules, and finalize those rules by the end of 2021." After the passage of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act phasing down HFCs, New Mexico sent a letter urging EPA to act swiftly to phase down HFCs in products.
Oregon: HFC legislation was introduced in Oregon in 2020, mirroring bans and phase-down schedules enacted in other states. See HB4024 for details at: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2020R1/Measures/Overview/HB4024
Pennsylvania: The PA Department of Environmental Protection has begun stakeholder meetings on the HFC phase-down. A presentation dated 22 April 2020 suggested that Pennsylvania would adopt regulations modeled after those enacted by other states in the US Climate Alliance, with regulations finalized in 2021. As of summer 2021, those rules are on hold pending action on HFCs by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas: Senate Bill 125 was introduced in Texas in 2021, and if adopted, would phase down HFCs in line with similar timeframes established on other US states.