President Donald Trump, alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is set to unveil a significant rollback of two refrigerant regulations instituted during the Biden administration. These rules, initially aimed at curbing global warming, are being revised with the promise of saving consumers approximately $2.4 billion.
The first of these adjustments is expected to result in $900 million in savings, primarily benefiting grocery stores. By extending the deadline of a 2023 regulation, which required phasing out industrial refrigerators containing high Global Warming Potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons, the administration aims to ease the financial burden. Executives from the grocery sector are anticipated to be present for the 11 a.m. announcement in the Oval Office.
Additionally, the administration plans to save an estimated $1.5 billion by broadly granting exemptions to roadway refrigeration units. These units were previously subject to a 2024 regulation intended to prevent leaks of hydrofluorocarbons. This strategic shift was initially reported by USA Today.
In a statement, Zeldin expressed that the Biden-era refrigerant rules were a source of frustration for Americans, claiming they failed to effectively protect human health or the environment and imposed unwarranted, expensive constraints. “Today, the Trump EPA is fulfilling President Trump’s promise to lower costs and is addressing every issue we can under the authority Congress provided us,” Zeldin stated. “Our actions empower businesses to select the refrigeration systems that best suit their needs, resulting in substantial savings. These savings will translate to lower grocery prices for American families.”
“Today, the Trump EPA is fulfilling President Trump’s promise to lower costs and is fixing every problem we can under the authority Congress gave us. Our actions allow businesses to choose the refrigeration systems that work best for them, saving them billions of dollars. This will be felt directly by American families in lower grocery prices.”
