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Public Workshop for Stationary Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Rulemaking

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff will host a public workshop to discuss proposals for reducing high-global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from stationary refrigeration and air conditioning (AC) equipment, and the Fluorinated Gases Emission Reduction Incentive Program. These proposals are intended to help achieve HFC reductions as mandated by SB 1383. In this workshop, CARB staff will present draft regulation text, and proposed guidelines for developing the incentive program, established by SB 1013.

DATE:                January 30, 2020
TIME:                 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION:       California Environmental Protection Agency
                          California Air Resources Board | Byron Sher Auditorium
                          1001 I Street Sacramento, California 95814

Directions to the California Environmental Protection Agency’s (CalEPA) headquarters and public transit can be found at the CalEPA website. For those interested in attending remotely, a webcast will be available. There will be an option to submit questions during the webcast.

Webcast

Background

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as HFCs, are among the most harmful pollutants as they are powerful climate forcers. While they remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than carbon dioxide (CO₂), their GWP can be tens, hundreds or even thousands of times greater than CO₂. Recognizing the importance of reducing HFCs, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) in 2016, which requires a 40% reduction of HFC emissions below 2013 levels by 2030.

HFCs are also recognized in CARB's SLCP Strategy as the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases (GHG) both globally and in California. The SLCP Strategy identifies measures to help CARB meet the emissions reductions targets, which include financial incentives for early adoption of low-GWP refrigeration, an HFC supply phasedown, a sales prohibition of high-GWP refrigerants, and a prohibition on new equipment using high-GWP refrigerants.

In March 2018, the Board approved CARB’s proposal to adopt into California state regulations, specific requirements of the partially vacated United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) prohibitions on the use of high-GWP refrigerants in new and retrofit stationary refrigeration equipment and certain HFCs used as blowing agents in foam end uses. The requirements focused on end-use prohibitions from the U.S. EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program Rules 20 and 21, which had past or upcoming effective dates. In September 2018, the governor signed into law SB 1013, which adopted all of SNAP Rules 20 and 21 except mobile vehicle air conditioning, and established the Fluorinated Gases Emission Reduction Incentive Program.

However, additional emissions reductions are still needed. CARB is proposing an equipment prohibition (outlined in the SLCP Strategy) that will have GWP limits for new stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems. This includes a GWP limit of 150 on new stationary refrigeration systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant starting January 1, 2022, and a GWP limit of 750 for stationary air conditioning systems starting January 1, 2023.

Contact

If you have questions regarding this workshop, please email the HFC Reduction Team or call at (916) 322-3984.

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