Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On May 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of five recipients for grants aimed at addressing climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda and is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, marking a significant investment in climate action.
“These diverse projects will tackle the destruction and reclamation of HFCs in innovative ways to help protect our climate and bolster American technologies,” said Joe Goffman, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation.
The grants range from $1.5 million to $3.8 million and support efforts to manage HFCs more effectively. The selected recipients are The University of Washington, Texas A&M University, Drexel University, University of California-Riverside, and the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Institute. These projects aim to increase the reuse of existing HFCs and reduce the overall impact on the climate.
HFCs are potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols, and foam products. Their impact can be hundreds to thousands of times stronger than carbon dioxide. Under the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM), the administration aims to reduce HFC levels by 85% below historical levels by 2036. Additionally, President Biden has signed the U.S. ratification of the Kigali Amendment to phase down these super-polluting gases internationally.
This announcement underscores efforts to balance climate action with U.S. manufacturing competitiveness while ensuring benefits for American workers in a growing global market for HFC reclamation and destruction.
The EPA expects that grants will be finalized by summer 2024 with project commencement anticipated in fall or winter this year.
