United States. Proponents of recently introduced legislation to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants conducted a media campaign to urge senators to support the U.S. Manufacturing and Innovation Act (AIM) (S. 2754). The campaign will be led by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the HVACR industry trade association, with support from the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy.
The legislation, presented in October by sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.), would establish a national framework for the gradual reduction of HFC refrigerants, while in the process promoting American technology and creating thousands of new jobs. Currently, the legislation has 22 bipartisan co-sponsors in total from 16 states.
"Globally, markets are already starting to move away from HFCs," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "A phase-out of federal HFCs keeps U.S. manufacturers in the driver's seat during this transition, creating jobs here at home, expanding market share overseas, and spurring significant investment in the U.S. economy."
The digital campaign was held from December 2 to 8 on the energy pages of POLITICO, CQ/Roll Call and The Hill.
"We are pleased with the strong and growing bipartisan support for the AIM Act, which builds momentum to claim the labor and trade benefits that make possible a uniform HFC phase-down policy," said Kevin Fay, executive director of the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy.
Federal legislation reducing HFCs represents an opportunity to put America first and keep American workers at the forefront of this important global industry. A recent economic study of the industry showed that a new federal standard for the phase-out of HFCs would create 33,000 new manufacturing jobs in the United States, add $12.5 billion per year to the U.S. economy, and expand U.S. exports in this sector by 25%. Failure to do so will cost U.S. businesses and jobs.
